The Paradise Pact (Anita Heiss, S&S)

The Paradise Pact by Anita Heiss (Dirrayawadha) is not a romance novel, but it is a love letter to friendships, self-discovery and life’s capacity to surprise you. The novel centres on Abbey, Caitlin and Stevie, who have been best friends for years and celebrate this anniversary annually with an in-person meet-up somewhere in Australia. When Stevie decides to run a half-marathon in Hawai’i, the traditional girls’ weekend shifts overseas as all 3 women sign up, providing both a new setting and a catalyst for change. For Abbey, who is feeling overwhelmed by a recent break-up, alongside starting a new business and experiencing the joys and tribulations of grandparenthood, the trip offers a rare opportunity to break out of some ingrained thought patterns. Between training for the marathon, drinking mai tais and reconnecting with her friends, Abbey finds the freedom and peace to start reconnecting with herself. Heiss uses the Hawaiian locations and characters thoughtfully, developing both against the joy to be found in history and culture, and against the ongoing challenges of colonial history and the increasing environmental disasters caused by climate change. The Paradise Pact is easy to read with upbeat messages about friendship, love and living your best life. Readers may find Abbey’s journey to physical and emotional strength inspiring, and fans of Heiss’s previous work will surely enjoy this return to contemporary fiction, as will readers of Sasha Wasley, Sophie Green and Trish Bolton.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Kate Cuthbert is a reader and a book industry professional. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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