Slanting Towards the Sea

A Novel

De: Lidija Hilje

Narrado por: Imani Jade Powers

Spanning twenty years and one life-altering summer in Croatia, Slanting Towards the Sea is at once an unforgettable love story and a powerful exploration of what it means to come of age in a country younger than oneself.

Ivona divorced the love of her life, Vlaho, a decade ago. They met as students at the turn of the millennium, when newly democratic Croatia was alive with hope and promise. But the challenges of living in a burgeoning country extinguished Ivona’s dreams one after another—and a devastating secret forced her to set him free.

Now Vlaho is remarried and a proud father of two, while Ivona’s life has taken a downward turn. In her thirties, she has returned to her childhood home to care for her ailing father. Bewildered by life’s disappointments, she finds solace in reconnecting with Vlaho and is welcomed into his family by his spirited wife, Marina. But when a new man enters Ivona’s life, the carefully cultivated dynamic between the three is disrupted, forcing a reckoning for all involved.

Set against the mesmerizing Croatian coastline, Slanting Towards the Sea is a cinematic, emotionally searing debut about the fragile nature of potential and the transcendence of love.

©2025 Lidija Hilje (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Beautiful story of true love

Quiet, gorgeous, beautifully written story of love. Could not put it down. One of the best books of this year.

Haunting mesmerizing love story

Such beautiful writing and narration about Ivona, the woman who is always Slanting towards the sea. A Croatian love story which gives a nod to some of the beauties and also the frustrations of living in this country. But it is more a story of how who we are at our core impacts who we become and the choices we make. Torn between the love she still carries for her ex husband and the friendship she has with his wife and later the love she feels for a new man who makes her laugh and understands her so deeply. She is confused and we as the reader are equally confused, looking for foreshadowing of how love triangle which becomes a square can ever work out. This book has the maturity of an unpredictable and heart wrenching messy life with disappointments ands hopes ebbing and flowing with the tide. While at the same time the romantic scenes are poignant and not graphic. A lovely read.

Croatian history and self sacrifice

4 stars for Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje. This is another summer buzz book that fell just shy of the 5 star rating for me but was a solidly "good" read I can recommend. It's the story of Ivona who lives in Croatia and takes care of her aging and ill father as well as his dream property - a hotel in an olive grove that is hemorrhaging money. Ivona's ex husband, Vlaho, who has remarried Marina - one of Ivona's best friends is also a big part of this story. The book goes back and forth from the beginning of Ivona's intense relationship with Vlaho including their married years to the present where he is with Marina and a presumably happy father of two little ones. The question of why they divorced is the magnet that pulls the story together eventually and keeps you reading. The awkward threesome make a unique friendship work for years until Ivona brings a new lover into the triangle, Asier, an investor who is going to rescue Ivona from financial ruin by buying the hotel from her and her father. Things bounce then tumble off course when it becomes obvious to Vlaho that Ivona is intimately involved with Asier. The entire story is told from Ivona's perspective and she is an anxious and fairly unhappy woman on the edge of middle age who has sacrificed her own desires and dreams repeatedly for other's over the years and at the expense of her own happiness. The settings of Zagreb and Zadar are simply gorgeous and the history of Croatia during the war and after is so deftly woven into this story that it's seamless. You feel transported to these olive groves and this struggling seaside village desperately trying to be reborn. I was not fully empathetic towards Ivona, however, and that is ok. I did want her to take charge of her life. It was overall a beautifully written story and worth my time. I found the ending satisfying.

Beautiful Read

I’ve recently been exploring different genres, and I can honestly say this was an incredible choice. This story is so real, relatable, and beautifully written—it truly resonated with me, and I believe it will with many women. The author not only crafted a compelling narrative but also wove in the realities faced by so many women dealing with infertility. She captured the raw emotions, the quiet struggles, and the way life continues to move forward despite the pain. The book portrays the heartbreak with honesty, showing the deep toll it can take on a person’s life and relationships. I cannot recommend this book enough.

A Nice Surprise!

I heard about this book while listening to a podcast last week, and right off the bat, I really enjoyed the narration… The story also turned out to be good, and I learned quite a bit about Croatia and the Dalmatian people. I will certainly be recommending this audiobook to those looking for a heart-warming novel that’s easy to listen to. Enjoy!

A Journey Through Memory and Home

What if life doesn't go as planned?
That question stayed with me throughout this entire book. Ivona is a deeply complex character who feels everything with intensity. Her heartbreak is palpable—I ached for her as she navigated love, loss, and identity.

One quote that stood out to me was:
"If people want to love you, they do, no matter how flawed you are. But if they aren't inclined to love you, nothing you say or do, no amount of your own goodness, can make them change their mind."
To me, this captures Ivona's emotional journey—her search for love and a sense of self in a world that often denies her both.

I was grateful the story ended on a hopeful note, with Ivona beginning to reclaim her identity. I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did—and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates introspective, emotionally rich storytelling.