Slanting Towards the Sea

A Novel

By: Lidija Hilje

Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers

National Bestseller * Dazed Best Book of the Year

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.

Critic reviews

"Imani Jade Powers brings a thoughtful tone to this layered story of love, regret, and quiet resilience, which follows a Croatian woman’s journey into midlife. Powers’s voice projects the melancholy of Ivona’s reflections as she returns to her hometown to care for aging family members and reunite with her childhood love and now ex-husband. Set against the evocative backdrop of Croatia’s changing coastline and political landscape, Powers’s narration supports both the personal and historical story arcs with care. As Ivona reconnects with her past and confronts difficult choices, Powers keeps the focus on emotional clarity and interiority, drawing the listener into a world shaped by longing, resilience, and shifting tides. The result is a steady, intimate listening experience. Powers mirrors Ivona’s emotional ebb and flow."

Good read

Very relatable and easy listen. Life happens and being an adult brings about certain decisions

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.

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.

Magnificent

I loved the prose, the characters, the storyline, the structure and build up in tension, allllllll of it! It is raw and honest and painful and I sobbed so hard for the 5h it took me to read it all, that I gave myself a migraine. I adored this book!

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!