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Set against the mesmerizing Croatian coastline, Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje is a cinematic and emotionally resonant debut about love, loss, and the fragile nature of possibility. The novel follows Ivona, a woman whose life has stalled while her ex-husband, Vlaho, has moved on. Despite the passing years, she remains tethered to the past—until a new relationship forces her to confront what she’s lost, what she left behind, and what she might still reclaim.
Hilje, writing in English as her second language, crafts prose that is crisp, atmospheric, and quietly powerful. The Croatian coast becomes more than a backdrop—it reflects Ivona’s inner tides of longing and regret. Reading it made me even more eager to visit Croatia someday and see the beauty she describes so vividly. The pacing is unhurried, much like Ivona’s emotional drift, but readers who appreciate introspective, character-driven fiction will find the depth of feeling worth every page.
Although books involving adultery aren’t usually my favorite, Hilje handles the subject with nuance and restraint, focusing more on emotional truth than scandal. Slanting Towards the Sea is a tender, reflective story about finding peace in the present—about trading the weight of “what might have been” for the quiet strength of “what still can be.” Highly recommended for readers drawn to stories of mood, memory, and redemption.