Scan barcode
beks_gail's review
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The book had some really good metaphors for getting through tough times in life.
But for a YA book had too much smut.
But for a YA book had too much smut.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Eating disorder, Addiction, Death, Self harm, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Vomit
aneanara's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This book is not what I usually read, but omg this will be what I usually read in the future because omg I don’t need fantasy anymore I need more like this. I picked it up because of the beautiful cover and it was WONDERFUL.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Death, Sexual content, and Homophobia
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The family history of characters Violet and Sam with the coastal Maine setting caught my attention. For years I have had a deep curiosity of my own ancestry. The story itself was very character driven about family, mostly immediate family, and Violet's behavior and love life. Pacing was too slow for me throughout much of the book, and the switch between povs bothered me. Most of the book is written in first person pov, but a few pieces are written in 2nd person with some parts written in third. This is a purposeful tactic by the author to differentiate past events and introspection, but the style threw me off. I did appreciate the character growth, though, and was mildly curious enough about the characters and plot outcomes like finding the wreck and the family dynamic to keep going. I checked out the audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job of portraying Violet's varying emotions of ups and downs.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Death
loudaslions's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Mental illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Car accident, Vomit, Homophobia, and Hate crime
geerbeer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Het is heel queer op een superfijne manier en er is iemand met een glazen oog, maar verder is het geen heel diverse groep mensen lijkt het. Super leuke manier van schrijven en meta-dingetjes in het boek, daar houd ik van. Veel gelachen, klein beetje traantjes gelaten en vooral gewoon genoten van de cozy vibes en interesse in de 'main maar toch back-up story line' over het wrak.
Pro tip: Lees niet de Nederlandse vertaling!
Pro tip: Lees niet de Nederlandse vertaling!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Drug abuse and Medical content
Minor: Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Child death, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
It's obvious the author isn't '...'phobic, it's a very queer book. But there are some mentions of queer people not being accepted by others.amaliewebs's review
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! The journey of self-discovery and healing that the main character goes through was inspiring, and I became really attached to the story. The combination of the strong character development and the plot events and how they intertwined was perfect, and I was truly invested in what was happening. I loved the feeling of found family and the emphasis of how important close friends are, as well as the value of all our relationships we have. All of the characters were well-rounded with their own personalities and stories, and all went through their own healing and growth. A truly powerful story :) and I was really happy with how it ended, after a very intense climax!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
meaghancook's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
My only wish is that this book was 100 pages shorter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, and Death
Minor: Vomit
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had a totally different idea about the plot of this book. I might have mixed it up with something else and since I don't read synopses, I was really surprised what this book was actually about. And pleasantly surprised even because it has so many things I love to read about.
A small coastal town, family history, mystery and adventure, a treasure hunt, sibling dynamics, a friends group, LGBTQIA representation. And I really really enjoyed the majority o the book. The main character went through some hard hitting things and made some questionable decisions, but I still enjoyed reading from her perspective.
I was disappointed by the last quarter of the book, though. The plot didn't really progress, and then it was suddenly over, but the ending took half an eternity to conclude. Weird pacing and I get the focus was on some important topics, but still, the rest was just forgotten somehow.
But yeah, still liked and enjoyed the majority and the atmosphere was perfect for a summer read.
A small coastal town, family history, mystery and adventure, a treasure hunt, sibling dynamics, a friends group, LGBTQIA representation. And I really really enjoyed the majority o the book. The main character went through some hard hitting things and made some questionable decisions, but I still enjoyed reading from her perspective.
I was disappointed by the last quarter of the book, though. The plot didn't really progress, and then it was suddenly over, but the ending took half an eternity to conclude. Weird pacing and I get the focus was on some important topics, but still, the rest was just forgotten somehow.
But yeah, still liked and enjoyed the majority and the atmosphere was perfect for a summer read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Eating disorder, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, and Medical content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Drug use, and Homophobia
mads1706's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Death, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
mallorypen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was an unexpected delight. I found this book as a free download on audible, and wasn’t expecting much. The first few chapters were a little on the slow side, but the narration was really well done and the story just intriguing enough that I kept going. Boy, am I glad that I did!
The wave this book told the story from the perspective of a teenager was incredibly well done. Violet is such a relatable character, even though our life experiences are wildly different. The author was able to encapsulate the feelings of uncertainty, self-doubt, self hatred, defensiveness, young love, queerness, self-discovery, confusion, and pain in such a way that was beautifully and lyrically done. The story made me remember my teenage years, and all of the emotions, change, and overwhelming feelings that came during that time period of life.
The story itself is complex, but told in such a way that feels very straightforward until you get deeper into the story and realize all the different layers coming together. The way the author structures the story lets you learn along with violets friends all the things that have gone on in her life. Violet is showing us her life story, through her lived experiences and her thoughts about what’s going on in the present but taking the reader backwards in time in such a way where I don’t feel like I was being info-dumped upon but rather things were coming to light as they related to the experiences she was having in the moment.
The cast of characters in the story was also incredibly three-dimensional and well flushed out. The love triangle was handled in such a way where I honestly did not know where the story was going to go until we were almost at its conclusion. The romance was so heartbreakingly teenager, but also so much bigger and deeper in a way that felt really special.
I also felt like the author treated the suicide attempt in such an understanding and kind way. Violet struggled to know how to even talk to her brother let alone what to say felt so real and when she got to the point where she could talk to her brother about it and share how she felt about him and his life, it was such a triumph for the reader and for the character.
The overarching story plot of finding the Lyric was such an interesting device. I also really liked the idea of the shipwreck gene; were some members of Violet‘s family saw their heritage as a source of strength, Violet saw it almost like a curse. And then, in the end, when she was able to come to terms with the idea of a curse not necessarily being a bad thing, but a promise … that was just very cool from a storytelling perspective.
There is this triumphant moment when they think they found the Lyric; it’s very contemplative where it almost doesn’t matter whether or not the ship is actually there. I thought that was going to be a climax in and of itself, but the way that the author was able to up the tension with the kayak and going out to sea was unexpected but thrilling. It also made a lot of sense for Sam‘s character to do something reckless but also so very alive; and the hint of mysticism with the voice that urged them to swim up and not really understanding whether or not the wreck was there beneath them was a satisfying conclusion will still leaving things open ended and not neatly tied up in a narrative bow.
Over all this was such an unexpectedly poetic, beautiful and intriguing plot with a lovable cast of characters you wanted to root for. What a surprise and delight!
The wave this book told the story from the perspective of a teenager was incredibly well done. Violet is such a relatable character, even though our life experiences are wildly different. The author was able to encapsulate the feelings of uncertainty, self-doubt, self hatred, defensiveness, young love, queerness, self-discovery, confusion, and pain in such a way that was beautifully and lyrically done. The story made me remember my teenage years, and all of the emotions, change, and overwhelming feelings that came during that time period of life.
The story itself is complex, but told in such a way that feels very straightforward until you get deeper into the story and realize all the different layers coming together. The way the author structures the story lets you learn along with violets friends all the things that have gone on in her life. Violet is showing us her life story, through her lived experiences and her thoughts about what’s going on in the present but taking the reader backwards in time in such a way where I don’t feel like I was being info-dumped upon but rather things were coming to light as they related to the experiences she was having in the moment.
The cast of characters in the story was also incredibly three-dimensional and well flushed out. The love triangle was handled in such a way where I honestly did not know where the story was going to go until we were almost at its conclusion. The romance was so heartbreakingly teenager, but also so much bigger and deeper in a way that felt really special.
The overarching story plot of finding the Lyric was such an interesting device. I also really liked the idea of the shipwreck gene; were some members of Violet‘s family saw their heritage as a source of strength, Violet saw it almost like a curse. And then, in the end, when she was able to come to terms with the idea of a curse not necessarily being a bad thing, but a promise … that was just very cool from a storytelling perspective.
There is this triumphant moment when they think they found the Lyric; it’s very contemplative where it almost doesn’t matter whether or not the ship is actually there. I thought that was going to be a climax in and of itself, but the way that the author was able to up the tension with the kayak and going out to sea was unexpected but thrilling. It also made a lot of sense for Sam‘s character to do something reckless but also so very alive; and the hint of mysticism with the voice that urged them to swim up and not really understanding whether or not the wreck was there beneath them was a satisfying conclusion will still leaving things open ended and not neatly tied up in a narrative bow.
Over all this was such an unexpectedly poetic, beautiful and intriguing plot with a lovable cast of characters you wanted to root for. What a surprise and delight!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death