Girl out of Water by Laura Silverman

Girl out of Water

by Laura Silverman

Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will feel right at home in this heartfelt coming-of-age story about a homesick girl who gives up her summer plans to help her distant family—only to find everything she was looking for, including love.
Ocean breeze in her hair and sand between her toes, Anise can't wait to spend the summer before her senior year surfing and hanging out on the beach with friends. Santa Cruz is more than her home—it's her heart. But when her aunt, a single mother, is in a serious car accident, Anise must say goodbye to California to help care for her three young cousins.
Landlocked Nebraska is the last place Anise wants to be. Sure, she loves her family, but living in her mother's childhood home—the same mother who disappeared out of her life when she was born—brings up memories and feelings she would rather forget. And with every photo and text, her friends back home feel further away.
Then she meets Lincoln, a charismatic, one-armed skater who dares her to swap her surfboard for a skateboard. Anise isn't one to shy away from a challenge. Her days with Lincoln are the most fun she's had all summer and skating together makes her feel more alive and free than she ever has.
Because sometimes the only way to find your footing is to let go.
Perfect for readers who like:Teen romance booksTeen realistic fiction booksHeartfelt summer readsTell Me Three Things and Five Feet ApartPraise for Girl out of Water:
A Junior Library Guild Selection!
"Hand to fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han."—Booklist
"A novel that reads like a warm summer afternoon."—Paste Magazine
"[A]n entertaining and well-done coming-of-age story."—RT Book Reviews
"[W]orthy of a spot in any teen's beach bag."—School Library Journal
Also by Laura Silverman:
You Asked for Perfect

Reviewed by layawaydragon on

5 of 5 stars

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➜I followed Laura Silverman on Twitter (@LJSilverman1) through the social progressive and activist book community and highly recommend everyone else do the same! 
➜This is supporting an unrepresented author. This is having a diverse cast without making them tokens or lessons. 
➜I loved everything about Girl Out of Water. Seriously! Perfectly paced and plotted, great characters, setting.
➜Perfect balance of different kinds of tension and drama. 
➜Great anxiety and disability rep. 
➜Anise is understandably flawed and fucks up, but works on making good. She’s an adrenaline junkie, but not in a bad way, and a surfer snob. I didn’t even know the latter was a thing, lol. Oh how quickly she learned me! 
➜LOVE Lincoln. Complete and total swoon with a side of “D’aww” squee. And his little brother is 
➜Tess is an amazing bestie that I wish we saw more of, but..ya know, plot. 
➜I’ve got dozens and dozens of quotes highlighted. Lovely turns of phrases and quotables.
➜YAY for supportive families that aren’t cookie cutter nuclear nonsense. 
➜Her cousins are adorable in their own exasperating ways, her Dad is also soon and I’m relieved this wasn’t a “single parent starts dating and chaos ensues.” I mean, he def should date if he wants to, but I’m so tired of that plot line, TBH. Her auntie is admirable and her moments on pain meds are REAL. I’m a single mom with health issues and man, it’s tough. Glad to see at least a little bit in fiction and have such a great representative! 
➜Love the way the beginning and ending squared up. 
➜YAY Mature romance and sex positivity. 
➜Great message learned about home and time and growing up and getting out of your shell. No introvert or anxiety shame here!

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  • 16 September, 2016: Reviewed