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A review by thebookssmuggler
Tears in the Water by Margherita Scialla
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
3.5
I really enjoyed this book! I wouldn't add it to my list of favorite books (I am kind of picky with those), but it's definitely one I'd recommend. Especially if you're interested in a coming-of-age, college set, young adult story. That's definitely the main focus of the book <3. A short, character-driven, contemporary story with lessons of love, friendship, and self-discovery.
I think the author did an incredible job with the anxiety and neurodivergent representation in their characters, especially our main, Alex. So well written, you can feel those emotions being described so accurately. ALSO - the romance is a sweet and loving friends-to-lovers trope that I'm obsessed with! Margherita really knows how to write these. And don't get me started on the ton of lgbtqia+ rep, too! 10/10. I'd definitely say this is a story about the characters and their lives in college and preparing for the competitions- but there's no actual plot behind it.... It's still worth it, though. I enjoyed it!
At White Ravens University, where athletes train to become professional sportspeople, Alex is on the swimming team with her best friend, Xiuying. Having grown up mostly alone, parents absent and brother often busy with his own life, Alex tends not to meet new people unless she and Xiuying are together... After an embarrassing encounter with a boy from the volleyball team Alex soon discovers that the world isn’t so big after all and the universe has a funny way of setting people up, especially when and with whom they’re least expecting...
Despite her reserved character, Alex becomes part of a newly formed friend group consisting of four amazing people with different identities and personalities :D. As she tries to overcome her anxiety and negative past events, Alex finds herself both struggling with romantic feelings for a new acquaintance and a full-blown gender crisis... Tears in the Water is a story of self-discovery, found family, friendship, and love. For fans of queer coming of age stories.
I think the author did an incredible job with the anxiety and neurodivergent representation in their characters, especially our main, Alex. So well written, you can feel those emotions being described so accurately. ALSO - the romance is a sweet and loving friends-to-lovers trope that I'm obsessed with! Margherita really knows how to write these. And don't get me started on the ton of lgbtqia+ rep, too! 10/10. I'd definitely say this is a story about the characters and their lives in college and preparing for the competitions- but there's no actual plot behind it.... It's still worth it, though. I enjoyed it!
At White Ravens University, where athletes train to become professional sportspeople, Alex is on the swimming team with her best friend, Xiuying. Having grown up mostly alone, parents absent and brother often busy with his own life, Alex tends not to meet new people unless she and Xiuying are together... After an embarrassing encounter with a boy from the volleyball team Alex soon discovers that the world isn’t so big after all and the universe has a funny way of setting people up, especially when and with whom they’re least expecting...
Despite her reserved character, Alex becomes part of a newly formed friend group consisting of four amazing people with different identities and personalities :D. As she tries to overcome her anxiety and negative past events, Alex finds herself both struggling with romantic feelings for a new acquaintance and a full-blown gender crisis... Tears in the Water is a story of self-discovery, found family, friendship, and love. For fans of queer coming of age stories.