Review: Iluka by Cassie Stroud

 With Iluka Cassie Stroud has delivered a complex story of family, lies, long held secrets and reconciliation.

After the death of their grandfather, Helen , Sylvie and Brendan have come together at their grandparents coastal home to clean out and decide the next step with the house. The siblings were raised from a young age by their grandparents.

Helen’s teenage daughter Tegan is filming the clean out for a Uni project. The camera is always recording and captures the little actions that are often missed; a grimace, a glance, a shrug.
When letters from their mother, long after her supposed death, are uncovered the siblings start to re-evaluate the last 25 years.

Cassie Stroud’s characters are emotionally charged, nuanced and real. They bicker, run away, hurt each other and break down.

Iluka is narrated in four parts with a shift in perspective and time. I did struggle with this a little. I really enjoyed part one, getting to know the three siblings and how they fit with each other. Part two was Marguerite, the mother's story which I felt I already knew from the letters found and Helen's memories and I wasn't so invested in this. Part three was Iris, the grandmother's point of view which did clear up some misconceptions but I really wanted to get back to the siblings. Part four was back to the present and was a tidy closure to the novel.

Iluka is a powerful debut that explores the dynamics of family and is sure to be loved by contemporary fiction readers. 

My rating 3.5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐½

Publisher: Harlequin Australia

Publication date: 28th January 2026

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 336

RRP: $32.99AU (trade paperback)

Source: ARC via HQ Insiders