Underwater
by Marisa Reichardt
Published on January 12th 2016
by Farrar Straus & Giroux
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley, The Fantastic Flying Book Club
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads
Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then, herself.
But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school.
When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of the salty ocean air and the rush she used to get from swimming. He might be just what she needs to help her reconnect with the world outside.
Underwater is a powerful, hopeful debut novel about redemption, recovery, and finding the strength it takes to face your past and move on.
I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I don’t quite know how to put my thoughts on Underwater into words. It reminds me of another 2016 release I read a while back because it has the same impact and a similar storyline, but still very different. Needless to say Underwater is a very important book on multiple levels.
Underwater is about Morgan. She didn’t mean to do any harm that day. She actually did something kind. But her kind act ended up playing a role in a deadly tragedy. Now Morgan has to move on. She has to forgive. First someone who did something unforgivable. Then herself. But she can’t. She lives at home. She never leaves the appartment she shares with her mother and little brother. But that all changes on the day a new boy moves in next door. Evan reminds her of everything she’s missing and might just be the one person she needs to finally step outside again.
This book reminds me a lot of another 2016 release that I read earlier. It has a similar storyline, but in very different ways. I can’t give specifics because that would be a spoiler for this book and I want to keep up the mystery as to what happened to Morgan. The other book (which I won’t mention by name because that would betray the mystery too) dealt with the thing while its happening, Underwater deals with the aftermath of it for one of the people involved. Both are insanely important because it’s such a real thing these days, which is a sad thing to say. Both of these books had the same impact on me and touched me deeply. Both are very emotional reads and I’m so happy that both are executed very well and don’t oversell the drama of it all.
I loved Morgan as a protagonist. She’s such a strong character. I didn’t know what she’d been through at first and I had my guesses after a while and I was right. If I’d been in her shoes, I’d probably be a lot worse off. A character can be strong in so many different ways, mentally and physically, but Morgan definitely was. I also loved her mother and her brother Ben, who’s just so cute. Her mother also has a lot to deal with surrounding their father, but again, I’m not giving anything away because of spoilers. I also loved Evan, a lot. He’s so sweet and understanding with Morgan and yes, he does lose his patience sometimes. Who wouldn’t though. He’s just a great guy and who doesn’t love that?
But this brings me to the things that irked me just a little. First off, the romance. I really enjoyed Morgan’s new and growing friendship with Evan and I found the jump to romance a bit sudden. I can’t say why specifically because I don’t want to give anything away. Next to that, and this could just be me because I know nothing about this sort of thing, Morgan’s recovery seemed to go a bit fast once she’d taken the first step. Again, I have no experience with any of this, but it just came over this way.
Overall Underwater is touching, heartbreaking, sweet, emotional and such an important book to read. I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary. Definitely a 2016 must-read!
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It seems like there is a big plot twist in this one that I can look forward to! I think I have this one on my TBR because it looks so promising. Can’t wait to try it out :3
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Hope you enjoy it!
This one sounds wonderful even though I’m still curious as to what will be going on. I love stories that bring a great impact towards you. Even though you had a few things that irked you, it still sounds like everything came together. Definitely adding this to my TBR 🙂
I agree with you completely! I liked the book overall, and I definitely liked the family aspect, and the recovery- up until that point that you said. Because that DID bug me too. I have mixed feelings because on one hand, no, it isn’t at all realistic, but on the other… how boring would it have been it if was dragged out. So I get it, but still. But overall, it was very good. I loved that all the characters had such different reactions and thoughts on all of the plot (being vague for spoilers of course but you know what I mean) because it seemed REALLY realistic. Fabulous review, glad you enjoyed it too!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Aahww, yay! 😀 Glad you agreed with me. Yes if it had dragged out, it’d end up being boring.
Twitter: Emily
So I’m pretty much GUESSING what this is concerning but I have a pretty good idea that it’s similar to TiWiE (not putting the whole title because I don’t want your readers to encounter spoilers!). For some reason those kind of books intrigue me. *adds yet another 2016 release to the TBR*
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Yes it is! Good guess. 🙂 I think they intrigue us because they’re so relevant these days, unfortunately. I admire those who have the guts to write about it so honestly.
I liked this one too. It felt slow at times, but overall, I enjoyed it. Morgan wasn’t easy to like. Sympathize with, yes. She had this tendency to get upset about things she shouldn’t have, and that annoyed me. Evan was my favorite character! He’s so darn adorable and I’m glad he didn’t tiptoe around Morgan.
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I think it’s hard to have understanding for Morgan and the things that upset her because we have never stood in her shoes. At least I haven’t. 🙂
Twitter: The Infinite Limits of Love
I wasn’t sure about this one before, but I might give it a try now! I’m sad the romance is a little sudden but if there’s a growing friendship, I’m good. I’m curious as to what other book you’re talking about now! SPOIL ME ON HANGOUTS! I don’t really mind spoilers. 🙂
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Haha XDD Okay then. 😛
Your review is very mysterious, Bieke! Which makes me think the story was really good – since you were so careful not to spoil anything 🙂
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
It was really good! 🙂 I want people to go into this not knowing the mystery behind the MC, so yeah. No spoilers! 😛