E.K. Luke’s “The Seven Wonders of Westerly Point” opens with sixteen-year-old Bethany Brown contemplating her ceiling while “November winds whip against the windowpane,” when suddenly the postman knocks like a call to adventure. Their mission: scattering the ashes of Bethany’s estranged grandmother Constance at seven locations across a remote Australian peninsula that might as well be on Mars for all Bethany cares. What follows is both a sultry romance as well as a story about the connection between a mother and daughter.
The premise of this YA romance is elegantly simple: Bethany and her mother Gloria must fulfill Constance Josephine Brown’s final wish by visiting each of the Seven Wonders of Westerly Point. But Luke uses this structure as scaffolding for something else. Each of the Seven Wonders—Angel’s Ladder, Clearwater Hot Springs, Old Man’s Fort, Kookaburra’s Peak, the Beauchamp Winery, Moorhead Sheep Station, and the Whale Sharks—functions as both geographical destination and something of a bonding opportunity between mother and daughter.
Luke’s greatest achievement is creating characters who feel genuinely real and contradictory rather than merely poorly written. Bethany isn’t a misunderstood teenager or a selfish brat, she’s someone whose decisions make sense within her own emotional logic. Bethany’s character development operates on multiple registers simultaneously. She’s grieving a grandmother she barely knew while wrestling with her decision to abandon competitive swimming, the very activity that once connected her to Gloria “in cellular DNA.”
Bethany’s world in “The Seven Wonders of Westerly Point” is brightened and complicated by the two very different love interests who draw her heart in opposite directions. Aiden, her established boyfriend back home, is polished and popular. He’s the kind of boy who seems straight from a glossy magazine, all broad smiles and easy confidence, but often feels more like a symbol of her school life than someone who truly knows her. In Westerly Point, Gabriel enters as their tour guide and a mature, more grounded presence, revealing himself slowly like one of the town’s famous wonders.
Bethany and Gabriel’s relationship develops gradually. Gabriel comes across as genuinely likable—easygoing but not shallow, charming without trying too hard. Luke writes their growing attraction through small moments: hands accidentally touching, lingering looks, the easy way they talk while driving around Westerly Point. You can feel that flutter of new feelings without the author overselling it.
The romance feels real because it’s not perfect. When Gabriel sets up that surprise “formal” dinner at Old Man’s Fort with candles and everything, it’s sweet but not over-the-top—like something an actual person might do. And when things get complicated (especially with Bethany’s mom wanting to leave town early), neither character loses their mind or makes terrible decisions for the sake of drama. Gabriel stays hopeful but doesn’t turn into a stalker, and Bethany’s mixed feelings make sense—she’s torn between what she wants and what seems practical.
What really works is how Westerly Point becomes part of their story. The beaches, the old fort, the local festivals. It all creates this summery, small-town backdrop that makes their connection feel natural. One can easily imagine this type of locale being adapted for a popular Netflix miniseries. In addition to its romance, Luke’s writing style deserves praise for its easy warmth and cinematic vividness. Her prose is light and engaging, with a rhythm that carries readers gently from scene to scene. The dialogue sparkles with humor, especially in the way Luke captures the teenage voice—self-conscious and witty—while her descriptions of Westerly Point evoke a strong sense of place. The overall style is accessible yet evocative.
Readers seeking contemporary romance or stories that explore mother-daughter relationships—fans of authors like Rainbow Rowell’s emotional intelligence or Jaclyn Moriarty’s cultural sensitivity—will find Luke’s work particularly rewarding. With its simple writing style, this novel is primarily for a YA audience, but it can really be enjoyed by anyone. The novel succeeds as both young adult and crossover fiction, offering a relatable read about family dynamics and teenage romance with likeable characters you can’t help but want to spend time with.
You can get your copy of “The Seven Wonders of Westerly Point” here!
