A review by em_thebookish_girl
Oceans of Us by Vanessa Luisa

emotional funny slow-paced

5.0


Oceans of Us is a standalone; angsty, steamy father's best friend, age gap and forbidden romance. There's also a combination of other elements: grumpy/sunshine, "good girl/bad boy", forced proximity/next-door neighbour and slow burn. The prologue begins in the future, however, the first few chapters are set in the past. I enjoyed reading Merciful Vows, but I *think* it's safe to say that Oceans of Us is my favorite (so far) from the lovely Vanessa Luisa's work. 

This book is an epic masterpiece, and it blew me away how I instantly fell in love with the storyline. Oceans of Us is a beautifully written, bittersweet, emotional and touching read. An unputdownable read, and as the storyline started to unfold, I became obsessed with this book. I was overwhelmed with emotions: I laughed, and from time to time I was a bit teary; my heart soared and broke at the same time. Vanessa Luisa is the queen of angst and emotional romances. It's definitely a must-read! 

It's a story about two people who carry a heavy load on their shoulders: dealing with guilt, grief, loneliness and their demons in their own unique ways; looking for someone to lean on, a person who will understand them without any judgements. A person who will truly see them; see through the cracks of their facades. Where they can be raw, open, and free to be their "true self"; by showing their invisible wounds and vulnerable side. Paisley and Saint are two lost, broken souls recognizing one another, finding solace in each others' arms, creating a strong connection emotionally. They brought out the very best in each other; they uplifted and motivated one another when things got tough or when they needed it the most. 

Usually, it's difficult for me to relate to a character, yet, I couldn't believe how easily I found myself relating to some aspects of the heroine, Paisley's character so early on. And Vanessa, I applauded you thank you, for creating a lovely, relatable character. And Saint! I sure do love a tattooed, grumpy "bad boy"! Saint is dangerously alluring and mysterious, and he's a character where you *desperately* want to know more about. And beneath his unbreakable rough, bad boy exterior lies a flawed, broken, compassionate, gentle and caring person; Saint has a big heart, and he's a romantic *swoon*. I loved seeing their relationship evolve from hate to love. Despite getting on the wrong foot, Paisley and Saint slowly started to see each other in a new light. And as I turned each page, Saint's and Paisley's character unravelled a bit more, and their characters developed outstandingly. And their interactions! It was heartwarming, heart-clenching and downright steamy; the intense tension between them was palpable. 

Ever since their first "not so friendly" encounter: Saint stepping on Paisley's flowers ignited a never-ending standoff and war between them. Hence, they *sort of* became each others' nemesis, rubbing each other the wrong way. Saint may be her father's best friend, but he easily got on her nerves. And Paisley's positive, caring and nurturing nature annoyed the hell out of Saint. They are completely opposite each other: Paisley, the "quiet good girl" who lives by and follow the rules, and Saint, the "broody bad boy" who hates rules but immensely enjoys breaking them. Paisley is mature for her age: she's self-conscious, shy and reversed; Paisley doesn't easily express her emotions and she can be seen as a loner. Paisley has two passions: poetry and flower gardening; she enjoys tending her flowers. But, whenever Saint was around, she turned into a different person; he brought out her feisty, bold side; Paisley wasn't afraid to speak her mind, voicing her concerns and opinions as well as asking questions. And her feelings of hate for Saint changed, developing into a crush. Each day she became more curious about him, wanting to know his deepest, darkest secrets, to find out what Saint is hiding. The feeling is mutual; Saint is aware that Paisley is "off-limits", but he can't help himself, he wants to unravel Paisley. 
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