Publishing: May 1, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Page Count: 320
**I was provided with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**
I found out about this book through rather unfortunate events occurring in fall/winter last year when some Neo-Nazis decided to troll Laura Silverman for absolutely no reason at all and started to give her book 1-star-ratings on Goodreads. As terrible as those events were, I was glad to see the book community rally together for her and I am also very glad that it lead me to discover Girl Out of Water for myself.
This is the perfect summer read, even when it’s not summer. Silverman has a way of just really making you feel like you are right there with the character. I could almost smell the salt of the ocean breeze or feel the sweat of the Nebraska heat without ever thinking that there was too much description. So, even when I didn’t agree with every choice Anise made, I was with her in the moment no matter what. Anise is definitely a flawed person, but I could understand her and even relate in most moments. While I am in no way as athletic as her, I get the level of passion she has towards surfing. And while I do not have this close knit group of friends in my current geographical location, I went through similar difficulties with having to adjust to the distance between me and people I cared about more than once in my life. She makes mistakes, but you know that she is never intentionally out to hurt anyone.
I think one of the things I appreciated most about this book was how much it was about family, the one you are born into and the one you choose for yourself. It’s a theme I am often missing in my YA books, because whether parents or other family members are there for us or not, they always shape us and our youth. So, to see the struggle and the love that both come with this topic just made my heart sing. And it’s not like there wasn’t still room for other things, such as the really amazing love interest. Lincoln totally won me over with his self-confidence, charm and genuine interest and care for the people around him. And yes, also his dimple!
I didn’t mind the swearing and the underage drinking in this one, but if I could have changed something it would have rather been Anise’s storyline with her mother and her final confrontation with her friends when she got back home. Somehow I felt like there was more build up and nerves from Anise compared to the easy way it was finally resolved. That is such a minor thing though, I still adored this book and would definitely recommend it as a book to pick up this summer.
Fazit: 4.5/5 stars! Great book about family, friendship, passion and finding to oneself!
Are you going to read Girl Out of Water? Have you heard about it?
Life and Other Disasters 
Awesome review! I want to read this one, and your review made me want to read it even more. It sounds really good.
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I really enjoyed this one. I hope you will too!
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Such a lovely review, Kat, thank you so much for sharing this ❤ I have been hearing about that book a while ago, just like you did, because of all the drama on Goodreads and this made me so, so sad, but I'm glad that this, at least, brought this book onto our radar. I can't wait to read it, hopefully soon! 🙂
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Thanks, Marie! It’s really terrible how they harassed Laura, but I am not sure I would have heard about the book otherwise, so that’s at least something. I really enjoyed that one, especially because I can relate to the insecurities of being apart from your friends for the first time and not being sure whether it will withstand the test of distance.
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Ugh yes, this sounds like something I could painfully relate to just as well. I need to read that one as soon as I can 🙂
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Ooh great review, Kat! I’ve heard so many lovely things about this book, and when I learned about the storyline, it made me want to read it even more. I’m glad that you liked it – I think it’s a book I’ll love too. Also yesssss I have so much love for flawed characters I can empathize with. ❤
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Sometimes I waned to shake Anise and yell at her not to be stupid, but I got where her insecurities were coming from and in the end she always waned to make amends and that’s most important somehow. I hope you get to read it and enjoy it as well!
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Gosh that’s terrible that they did that- but it’s good that people rallied round to read her book. and this sounds like such a good book in its own right- I’m definitely going to check it out because I love a good summer read 🙂
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Yes, I really wish she didn’t have to go through that and I hope you’ll enjoy the book as much as I did whenever you get to it 🙂
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Thank you!! I’m sure I will 🙂
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Ohhh this sound so lovely! ❤ Family is such an important theme for me as well, I’m glad to see it’s in this book! And Lincoln sounds so sweet. 😍 Lovely review!
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I really, really enjoyed it! You should definitely consider picking it up one day 😉
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I read and enjoyed Girl Out Of Water so much also! Such a good book and it’s saddening to hear that people were discouraged from reading this gem when those trolls attacked this book!
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Yes, I really don’t understand how people can be filled with so much hate for absolutely no reason. However, I am very happy all this trouble lead me to the book 🙂
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