* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

The Invisibles by Rachel Dacus is contemporary women's fiction with a touch of magical realism. Set in an idyllic Italian seaside town, the story follows the reconnection of Saffron and Elinor following the death of their somewhat estranged father. The two half-sisters are in charge of the estate, including a house that may or may not be inhabited by the ghost of Percy Bysshe Shelley.

The Invisibles is a good early novel. The writing flows easily and the bones of the narrative are solid. However, there were some issues with the book that kept me from fully enjoying my reading experience. Though there is beautiful description with regard to imagery, the remaining senses seem to disappear and the writing in these areas veers more to the telling rather than showing approach. This isn't necessarily bad, but does display a bit of lopsided attention to the surroundings.

The story was not as focused on the magical realism aspect as I expected and it seemed as if this element was actually more of a distraction in the story, more of a plot device to propel the narrative than an actual useful piece. The plot may have been stronger with out this added detail, which is unfortunate given the fact that the title hinges on this particular component. Additionally, there are several moments when the plot is a bit choppy. There are holes that are never quite rectified and there is some unnecessary repetition. These pieces were distracting and pulled me out of the story.

Despite the issues I had with the narrative, I will say that the book itself is full of wonderful potential and good writing. The visual descriptive pieces are very well done and the development of characters was well explored. I did not necessarily like the personalities of the two sisters, but this was actually something of a good thing as they contain natural flaws that make them seem a bit more realistic. The overall story is lovely and the building of the romance makes it a perfect beach read.

The Invisibles by Rachel Dacus was a decent read with a steady flow that felt comfortable and relaxing. There was enough movement of the plot that I never felt bored and I did develop some concern for the plight of the characters. The read was engaging and enjoyable, though there were some pieces of the writing that did not feel as smooth as I would have liked them to be. Overall, an enjoyable read worth the time.