Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Psychology, Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness
Rate: 3.5 Stars
Synopsis: Add To 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.
When I first saw the cover for Underwater, I just had to know what it was about. I really wanted to know what caused this girl’s isolation from the rest of the world. What I got was something I wasn’t expecting. To go through what Morgan did would change anyone. Add that to the guilt she feels because she did a kind thing, only for it to end in such tragedy, I don’t think she stood a chance. She tried to move on and be normal, but that is not what happened. She closed out the outside world, let her friends go – and in her need to feel safe, she stays inside where she can control everything. I felt so bad for her situation, and just everything that brought her to that point. When a single mom and her teen son move in next door, everything that Morgan has tried to control starts to unravel. With the help of her therapist and Evan’s friendship, Morgan is able to forgive herself for something that would have happened anyway.
I love the story as a whole, but there were times that I felt strung along. I wanted to know what “The Event” was, and going back and forth with Morgan’s inner monologue kind of wore me down. Still, I was turning page after page because I was so caught up in the story. Evan’s appearance made the story more real, because despite the romance that blossomed between them, they had more in common than even Morgan realized. I love that twist to the story, and I was totally thinking something else was going on, so I was surprised. I love how Evan didn’t tiptoe around her because of what happened. To say my eyes bugged out during one such scene would be an understatement. Wasn’t expecting him to go there, but he did, and it was the best thing he could have said to her.
Morgan’s PTSD was not easy to deal with, but her therapist really helped her see that there was no reason for her to stop living her life because of the things that happened. I love how she pushed Morgan, and it seems that she got irritated a lot. There’s much more to this story than Morgan’s PTSD. The situation with her father really touched me. It didn’t end how I wanted it to, but I loved experiencing the change with Morgan. She grew a lot from start to finish, which is the point of the story. If you enjoyed Nicola Yoon’s Everything, Everything, then I suggest reading this book. Fans of YA Contemporary, especially, will love this. Recommended!
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I’m a SoCal native and high school writing instructor. I currently live in Los Angeles and can usually be found huddled over my laptop in coffeehouses or swimming in the ocean.
My debut YA contemporary novel, UNDERWATER, will be out 1/12/16 from Macmillan/FSG and 4/7/16 Macmillan Children’s UK.
I love all books and all genres. While I do keep track of all the books I’ve read here, I generally don’t do ratings or reviews.
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Ooh sounds interesting. And I love when there’s an involved therapist in situations like this.
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It sounds interesting-ish but I’m not sure it’s something I’ll really enjoy. I think I better skip this one! Even if I might find a new book boyfriend.
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Thanks for stopping by!
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Great review and I imagine PTSD feels very much like being underwater..love the cover. Despite some issues it sounds like a solid read,
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I would have liked to love Morgan more but I just never connected with her. I got her predicament, but I wasn’t enjoying the story unless the other characters were in scene. Evan is damn adorable 🙂
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Oh nice, it’s true that it looked like something different. The cover is quite intriguing too. Thanks for the discovery!
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Thanks for stopping by!
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I am very picky when it comes to YA contemporary and I wasnt big fan of Everything,Everything so I think I will pass this book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lekeisha 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by!
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I really enjoyed this book, and Marisa captured anxiety to a tee, especially the bipolar aspect of it. Glad to see you liked this book too, even not as much. 🙂 Great review, Lekeisha!
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Thanks!
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Aw this one sounds so good! I want to know what The Event too is now. 😛 Evan sounds like such a freaking sweetheart too omg. I can’t wait to read how Morgan oversomes her PTSD. Great review!
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Evan is so awesome and cute 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you think!
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I thought this cover was eyecatching, too. Your well-thought out review tells me that this would have me riveted to see if she heals and how it all came about. Definitely going on the wishlist.
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Great Sophia!
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This is getting a good buzz and it certainly sounds affecting.
Happy weekend!
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Happy weekend!
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I’ve seen this around lately, Lekeisha, and I’ve been hesitating, because it’s very rare that I enjoy books that happen under water, which is weird… Your review made me want to give Underwater a chance, though, because I want to know what happened to Morgan 🙂
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The title is just a metaphor that refers to her emotional state. However, she was a swimmer before everything went to hell. So there’s that sense of being “under water”.
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I really enjoyed this book! Great review! 🙂
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Thanks!
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Okay, I’m intrigued if only to find out what good deed backfired on the main character. Excellent review.
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I was going out of my mind about what happened. And then, to be surprised about why Morgan was affected so hard. Not that she shouldn’t have been either way, because that’s a very real, traumatic thing to go through.
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I added it to my TBR pile because this just gets curiouser and curiouser.
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Great review! I keep seeing such high ratings for this book so I think I should pick it up soon!! I really like that Evan doesn’t tip toe around Morgan. I am much more the just say it type of person lol!
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It’s definitely ab good book to read. If I had liked Morgan more as a character, I probably would have given it more than 3.5 stars. Still, I very much enjoyed this one.
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I actually really want to read this one for myself as well! It bothers me a bit when we as readers are kept out in the dark for a really long time, but I think the way this story kept you hooked is enough to convince me I am going to love it too! I haven’t read Everything, Everything but that is another one I would love to try. Glad you liked this one ^^
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I wanted to put it down so badly in the beginning, but I couldn’t until I knew what the big “thing” was. Even then, I kept on reading. Finished it in one sitting.
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Wonderful review, Lekeisha! This sounds like a really interesting book. I love the cover and you are right it really makes me wonder about the story. Just from reading your review, I really want to know what happened because of her good deed. I will try to squeeze this one in!
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Thanks Carole! Can’t wait to see what you think.
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Great review, Lekeisha! I’ve been curious about this one… Might need to check it out 🙂
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Thanks! I hope you get to read it soon.
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This book sounds amazing! It’s so high up on my TBR. I haven’t read anything quite like this, so I’m excited 🙂 I wish I lived in the US, ugh!
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Sorry 😦 I don’t think I have an INT giveaway until March, for my blogoversary. Can’t leave you guys out! But, yeah, this is a good book to read.
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