Book cover for The Wild Beneath: A Novel by Kelly Anderson

The Wild Beneath

A Novel

2026 Released
384 Pages
5-6 Hours
Paperback Unavailable
Park RowISBN 9780369775566

AUGUST 2026 REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

"If you love immersive, magical stories with unforgettable settings and books that spark great conversations, I think you're really going to love this one." —Reese Witherspoon

“Ethereal. . . . A story that reminds us sometimes the impossible is possible.” —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

“An entrancing, magical novel that highlights the beauty of the natural world and our fragile place within it. Spellbinding!” —Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid

For fans of Wild Dark Shore and Remarkably Bright Creatures, a love story as fierce and mysterious as the sea itself.

Annie MacLeod always knew she was different, growing up on a sailboat in the Pacific Northwest, navigating by the stars and swimming in the ocean. But when a tsunami shatters her world and her parents are swept away, Annie is stranded on land, grief-stricken and forced to confront just how unconventional she is, despite her enduring love for her childhood sweetheart, Evan.

In the wreckage, she rescues a wordless man named Walker, who emits a hum only she can hear. Their connection is instant, elemental. When Walker disappears—along with any explanation he might hold about who she really is—Annie is forced to decide between evacuating with Evan or staying to unlock a secret that feels vital to her survival.

Six years later, Annie has buried the past. But when Walker’s otherworldly sound returns, it forces a reckoning with the wild life she’s left behind. Is the truth of the ocean more powerful than she knows?

The Wild Beneath is a spellbinding story of soulmates, homecoming and the ancient bonds that tie us all to the natural world.

Kelly Anderson

Kelly Anderson (PhD candidate, Catholic University of America) is assistant professor of biblical studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

More by Kelly Anderson

Why Readwise Books?

Readwise Books is an ebook & audiobook platform that automatically logs how much you and your friends read, making it fun and easy to read more. Learn more →