Kai was seventeen when he died saving Avery’s life, though
he didn’t really have much to live for. After spending half his life being
shipped around to different families, the only place he felt at home was on a
street corner with his guitar. Now, it’s been six months since his death. Six
months adapting to a new kind of existence where instead of making music, he
uses his new healing powers to save lives. But in his off hours, he watches
helplessly as Avery’s life is unraveled by his death.
Avery doesn’t know that it was Kai who saved her life in the
ocean, because her rescuer’s body was never found. Wracked with guilt, the
ocean she once loved is now her tormentor. As her surfboards collect dust in
the garage, the weight of her grief destroys her relationships and stretches
her to a breaking point.
Always willing to break rules for those he loves, Kai steals
a ring that temporarily gives his body substance. With limited time, he does
all he can to restore her life to the way it was before his tragic death, but
Kai’s half-baked plans rarely turn out the way he thinks they will.
I am in love with this book. Could I tell you anything better than that? I doubt it, but here's my attempt to explain why I love it.
This is not what I would classify as your typical YA romance. The story felt meaty- full of depth and emotion that I could just sink my soul into. There was nothing light or surface to this book. I really loved that. As the book went on and more of the story unfolded, I felt like I was really getting to know the characters. They became real to me. I was invested completely and I had a hard time putting the book down.
I wasn't sure how this story would resolve. I thought I knew, then I didn't. Then I did, then I didn't. :) It was awesome. There were moments of brilliant writing and imagery. They made my reader heart happy.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Avery haunts me. I smell her scent even when she's not beside me. I hear her voice echoing inside my head long after she's gone. And when I'm not looking, she moves things around inside the chambers of my still heart."
This is a book I'm sure my teenage daughters will love. I can easily pass this book off to them with no hesitation. This book is clean (no swearing, profanity or sexual situations).
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Sarah Beard is the author of YA novels Porcelain Keys and
Beyond the Rising Tide. She earned a degree in communications from the
University of Utah and is currently pursuing an MFA in writing from VCFA. When
she's not writing, she referees wrestling matches between her three boys and
listens to audiobooks while folding self-replicating piles of laundry. She is a
breast cancer survivor, a baker of sweets, a seeker of good love stories, a
composer of melancholy music, and a traveler who wishes her travel budget was
much bigger. She lives with her husband and children in the shadow of the
beautiful Wasatch Mountains.
Twitter: @authorsarahb
Website: sarahbeard.com
Facebook: facebook.com/authorsarahbeard
