"This is a powerful tale of love, loss, obsession, and destructive choices, interwoven with seismic political events. And, like Leunens’ previous novel, there is enough here to suggest it could well become another acclaimed movie."
The New Zealand Listener
“Leunens keeps the pace rolling at a swift clip. It’s episodic. A golden light of nostalgia is cast over all.”
NZ Herald
"Writing of a romantic triangle that transcends a generational gap, Leunens details the complex and nostalgic nature of first love."
Fashion Quarterly
The New Zealand Listener
“Leunens keeps the pace rolling at a swift clip. It’s episodic. A golden light of nostalgia is cast over all.”
NZ Herald
"Writing of a romantic triangle that transcends a generational gap, Leunens details the complex and nostalgic nature of first love."
Fashion Quarterly
"Shifting between the present, in which Ethan is filming a documentary in Antarctica, and the past, In Amber’s Wake explores the messy and searing nature of first love. The kind that remains indelible and haunts well past its expiry date. The kind that has us believe it could have worked, it would have survived, if only… Because of Leunens’ skill in writing historical fiction, In Ambers Wake is an enjoyable trip down memory lane sprinkled with language from that time. She evokes the feeling of being young in this era. In Amber’s Wake has a few surprises up its sleeve which I won’t spoil for you. The book has a satisfying ending but whether it is ‘happy’ or not you’ll have to decide for yourself. For fans of Sally Rooney’s Normal People and One Day by David Nicholls… In Amber’s Wake offers a similar nostalgic, Aotearoa-based version."
Kete Books
"The plot might be set against a larger social and political world but the personal lives of Leunens’ characters have their own mysteries. The decisions and actions of parents play out in their children. Violence can flare in unexpected places. At times, the novel possesses a classical inevitability – very much like an ancient Greek drama – where one human choice or misstep will affect the worlds of all around it, including the following generation."
David Herkt, Canvas Magazine, NZ Herald
"It’s really, really well done in the way it portrays not only relationships but also families and the difficulties there can be in families, which so often is hidden away and in fact Ethan doesn’t truly come to understand exactly what’s happened in Amber’s family until many years down the track. It’s really well written and I loved it. And it’s a book of course that we’re going to relate to because it’s set against the background of the anti-nuclear movement and Springbok Tour and Rainbow Warrior. It’s got some great visual history in it."
Newstalk ZB, The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, “Whitcoulls recommends Christine Leunens”
"A forensic examination of relationship dynamics and motivations, and the aftershock effects of choices. Exploring themes of love, friendship, loyalty, family dysfunction, grief and illness set against a backdrop of social change and politics, this novel is written with assured prose and in a distinct and engaging voice."
Cass Moriarty, author of The Promise Seed and Parting Words
Kete Books
"The plot might be set against a larger social and political world but the personal lives of Leunens’ characters have their own mysteries. The decisions and actions of parents play out in their children. Violence can flare in unexpected places. At times, the novel possesses a classical inevitability – very much like an ancient Greek drama – where one human choice or misstep will affect the worlds of all around it, including the following generation."
David Herkt, Canvas Magazine, NZ Herald
"It’s really, really well done in the way it portrays not only relationships but also families and the difficulties there can be in families, which so often is hidden away and in fact Ethan doesn’t truly come to understand exactly what’s happened in Amber’s family until many years down the track. It’s really well written and I loved it. And it’s a book of course that we’re going to relate to because it’s set against the background of the anti-nuclear movement and Springbok Tour and Rainbow Warrior. It’s got some great visual history in it."
Newstalk ZB, The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, “Whitcoulls recommends Christine Leunens”
"A forensic examination of relationship dynamics and motivations, and the aftershock effects of choices. Exploring themes of love, friendship, loyalty, family dysfunction, grief and illness set against a backdrop of social change and politics, this novel is written with assured prose and in a distinct and engaging voice."
Cass Moriarty, author of The Promise Seed and Parting Words