"[8] A review by Stitch Byrne in The Week notes "Balen has added to Frank's compelling voice the attractions of short chapters, each beginning with a coded message, and anything-but-childish illustrations to create the perfect book to appeal to readers who may hitherto have been put off by weightier and less heartrending (and heartwarming) novels.
Balen triumphs: what unfolds here is a deceptively complex story, in which she explores themes of grief and abandonment through the unfiltered voices of two children on the cusp of adolescence.
"[13] Carolyn Boyd writes in a review for The School Librarian, "Although the plot is about a blended family, the true centre is people learning to deal with their feelings.
"[14] A review in The Irish Times states, "The prose is beautiful, the tension blistering: The Light in Everything is a highly recommended read for mature children aged 10+, as well as their adults.
"[16] Emily Bearn also reviewed The Thames and Tide Club for The Telegraph, writing, "There is a gentle, but never overbearing, moral about protecting the environment; and the combination of short, suspenseful chapters and engaging illustrations by Rachael Dean make this a book that even the less confident readers are likely to enjoy.