Wavewalker

A Memoir of Breaking Free

By: Suzanne Heywood

Narrated by: Suzanne Heywood

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

A TIMES BEST MEMOIR OF 2023

‘Grippingly vivid and pacey’ THE TIMES

‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing’ SIMON WINCHESTER

‘A seven-year old girl on a seventy-foot yacht, for ten years, over fifty thousand miles of sailing … a fantastic story of a truly Odyssean journey across all the world’s great oceans – but is also the inspiring story of the developing of a restless and inquiring mind’ SIMON WINCHESTER

'An astonishing almost day-by-day account of [a] hazardous journey and its legacy’ TELEGRAPH

‘This is a story of an epic childhood journey, so exciting and so shocking it is hard to know whether you’re reading about a dream or a nightmare… Wavewalker is thrilling, horrifying, beautifully written – I couldn’t put it down’ ED BALLS

Aged just seven, Suzanne Heywood set sail with her parents and brother on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling. No one else knew where they were most of the time and no state showed any interest in what was happening to the children.

Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. This memoir covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water… At seventeen Suzanne earned an interview at Oxford University and returned to the UK.

From the bestselling author of What Does Jeremy Think?, Wavewalker is the incredible true story of how the adventure of a lifetime became one child’s worst nightmare – and how her determination to educate herself enabled her to escape.

‘A classic memoir of childhood. This is a book that every parent should read to consider the consequences of their midlife crises, and every child should read to learn how to deal with impossible mums and dads, as well as boils and barnacles’ Mail on Sunday 5*

‘An electrifying story about an extraordinary childhood, and Heywood tells it with remarkable clarity and assurance . . . an engrossing book that pitches the reader into the highs and lows of a young life spent in the “Wavewalker School of the Sea”’TLS

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Suzanne Heywood (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Unforgettable

Such an amazing story. It was told so well and I found myself slowly realizing her childhood slipping away year by year. Such an incredible story and I’m so happy that I read it and I’m so happy that she exists!

Compelling, Inspiring, Heartbreaking

Beautifully written & read. I couldn’t get enough of this book. Reminded me of Educated by Tara Westover, but on a boat and with many more barriers to success for the author. I rarely take the time to leave a review, but this one more than deserves praise. Highly recommend this book!

Wavewalker

First couple
Of
Chapters didn’t catch
Me. Then we got sailing.
The Narration by author was great

Incredible

This is an amazing story. That’s it. That’s the review. Got a bit slow during the first 1/3, but then it picks up and I couldn’t stop listening.

Sue’s ability to overcome adversity

I enjoyed hearing about the South Pacific Islands and geography. Sue is a brilliant woman who educated herself and overcame obstacles to graduate from university to become a successful, productive individual. The harrowing experience with the ‘wave’ was so intense! Excellent book

Compelling listen!

A well told and exciting story. What an adventure/ordeal! I enjoyed every moment listening.

Learned the importance of kindness and support when others live your dream.

I just finished your story. I sit on the fly bridge of my 36’ Trawler steaming between Charleston and Beaufort SC for our winter cruise to Florida and the Bahamas. My wife and I have cruised 10 K miles together on The Great Loop and Lake Michigan. Reading your story enlighten me as to how to better appreciate the sacrifice my wife makes to go cruising. I love it and she tolerates it to be with me. Why do men love the sea and woman may not. Good question, but given the circumstance I will use the feelings you shared to make her as happy as I can while on the water. In the summer, we return to our condo on Lake Michigan and I sail. My wife enjoys her time with friends on land. Thank you for this gift you have shared. I watch you tube sailing videos, young couples starting families and I hope they get a chance to read your book. There is a time to be on land and on the water. If lucky you get to do both!

Thoroughly enjoyed

I really enjoyed this book. I was a bit discouraged beating the end as I felt there wasn’t going to be a resolve regarding the many questions that arose during her years at sea. Mostly questions of why there was such a lack of communication. However, at the end, she addressed these questions and added her own insight to them, which gave me a good conclusion. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent book, great narration by the author

I first heard about Wavewalker in an article that popped into my newsfeed. The glimpse of this book provided in that article prompted me to preorder it. I’m so glad I did. This book is a well-written memoir/coming of age experience. Suzanne is an excellent writer and she offers broad strokes of her younger life bound together by details that shape the narrative beautifully. Her story is profoundly moving, thought provoking, and inspiring. I highly recommend Wavewalker.

A poignant tale of resilience

"Wavewalker" by Suzanne Heywood is a beautifully written memoir that I thoroughly enjoyed. The book tells the compelling story of a girl who, through sheer hard work and perseverance, eventually finds her voice and sets herself free. Suzanne's journey is both inspiring and relatable, as she navigates the challenges of an unconventional upbringing and strives to define her own identity.

What makes this memoir particularly captivating is that Suzanne herself is the narrator. Listening to her read her own story adds an intimate and authentic layer to the experience, making it all the more compelling. Her voice conveys the depth of her emotions and the nuances of her experiences, drawing readers in and making them feel a part of her journey.

Overall, "Wavewalker" is a powerful testament to resilience and self-discovery, beautifully narrated by the author herself. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of personal growth and the triumph of the human spirit.