mariethelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I was so sceptical at first, cause mainly I wasnt feeling it, but then about 100 pages in I was completely hooked. The setting is magical and gave me Veronica Mars/Neptun vibes, plus Lemon reminds me of The Raven Boys. I loved how it all turned out and that it didnt become some cheesy ass romance but instead an important story about finding your voice and believing in yourself. AND SEBASTIAN IS THE CUTEST LIL THING AND MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS.
I loved the friendships in this book and how they developed. I just GAH THIS BOOK.
I loved the friendships in this book and how they developed. I just GAH THIS BOOK.
mamabirdgraph's review against another edition
5.0
I'm obsessed with mermaids.
And now this book.
Sebastian is my favorite.
The poetry in this book makes me weep.
As does the author's Acknowledgements.
& Elyse helped me find my voice again.
And now this book.
Sebastian is my favorite.
The poetry in this book makes me weep.
As does the author's Acknowledgements.
& Elyse helped me find my voice again.
crystal_reading's review
4.0
Review copy: E-ARC via Edelweiss
This was a perfect summer book. First, there is the cover. The beach, shells, fun colors and real people that match the characters in the book. The setting worked too. It's summer at the beach albeit a cold beach. I hadn't read a romance for a while either so this was truly a winner.
I have to say, the summary put me off a bit. That description of Christian as an insolent and arrogant bad boy made me roll my eyes a bit and want to skip the book. I think the word mermaid and the cover were the saving grace at that point.
Fortunately, I ignored my concerns and dove in anyway. This book is more than a quick light romance between an innocent young girl and the notorious playboy. Ockler shares a unique story of a young woman finding herself after her world has turned upside-down. Elyse had believed her voice was her future and now she has to figure out who she is without her singing.
Elyse finds her way slowly and painfully. She's is surrounded by many people who are supporting her. I loved meeting the community in Atargatis Cove. Lemon, Elyse's boss and mentor, allows her to have the space and time that she needs. There were many characters that appealed to me. I even appreciated Christian's little brother. He loves the mermaids and even wants to dress up as one. At that point, gender roles and expectations become an issue for Christian and his family.
That's what worked in this book. It isn't simply a romance. It isn't only about a girl physically unable to speak. The story is way more complex than that. This isn't a light and fluffy book though there are moments that had me belly laughing. Readers can expect to find many things to ponder in this lovely novel.
I will be recommending this one to many readers. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids is the first Sarah Ockler book that I've read, but it will not be the last. If you're looking for a romance with some substance, grab yourself a copy this summer, you won't regret it. If you aren't convinced yet, visit a few more of the reviewers on the book tour. http://diversebooktours.com/2015/07/the-summer-of-chasing-mermaids-mini-tour-schedule-sarahockler/
This was a perfect summer book. First, there is the cover. The beach, shells, fun colors and real people that match the characters in the book. The setting worked too. It's summer at the beach albeit a cold beach. I hadn't read a romance for a while either so this was truly a winner.
I have to say, the summary put me off a bit. That description of Christian as an insolent and arrogant bad boy made me roll my eyes a bit and want to skip the book. I think the word mermaid and the cover were the saving grace at that point.
Fortunately, I ignored my concerns and dove in anyway. This book is more than a quick light romance between an innocent young girl and the notorious playboy. Ockler shares a unique story of a young woman finding herself after her world has turned upside-down. Elyse had believed her voice was her future and now she has to figure out who she is without her singing.
Elyse finds her way slowly and painfully. She's is surrounded by many people who are supporting her. I loved meeting the community in Atargatis Cove. Lemon, Elyse's boss and mentor, allows her to have the space and time that she needs. There were many characters that appealed to me. I even appreciated Christian's little brother. He loves the mermaids and even wants to dress up as one. At that point, gender roles and expectations become an issue for Christian and his family.
That's what worked in this book. It isn't simply a romance. It isn't only about a girl physically unable to speak. The story is way more complex than that. This isn't a light and fluffy book though there are moments that had me belly laughing. Readers can expect to find many things to ponder in this lovely novel.
I will be recommending this one to many readers. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids is the first Sarah Ockler book that I've read, but it will not be the last. If you're looking for a romance with some substance, grab yourself a copy this summer, you won't regret it. If you aren't convinced yet, visit a few more of the reviewers on the book tour. http://diversebooktours.com/2015/07/the-summer-of-chasing-mermaids-mini-tour-schedule-sarahockler/
khairun_atika's review
3.0
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids tells the story of Elyse, a Tobago native who comes to Atargatis Cove after a traumatic accident back home. Elyse is an aspiring singer, who often performs with her twin sister Natalie. However, a near fatal boating accident almost caused Elyse to drown, and she ended up with an injury to her vocal cords. Elyse is not able to sing or even speak anymore. Over at the Cove, Elyse tries to get over her past and make friends, but is still withdrawn because of the accident. She meets the Kane brothers and help them rediscover their passion and self worth, while also learning that losing her voice does not mean losing her spirit. Elyse also finds herself drawn to the handsome Christian, although she knows how dangerous he is. This is an endearing story of learning to stand up for the people you love, even when all hope seems lost, making this an unforgettably beautiful summer story. A brilliant read!
blakehalsey's review
5.0
Maybe my favorite summer read ever. So atmospheric, full of lore and myth and Ockler deftly blends all of that with a beautiful love story. More than that, she blends it with a beautiful story of a girl who lost everything but fought her way back to life. A different life, yes. But LIFE. I resonated with that theme so hard. Loved this book.
books_and_planners's review
3.0
This was an easy summer read. It dealt with heavy topics, but in a light way if that makes sense. It’s definitely a young adult, where the “adults” aren’t completely believable in some parts to me.
joliendelandsheer's review
5.0
Originally at The Fictional Reader
Before I requested this book, I had read exactly one Sarah Ockler book, The Book of Broken Hearts. I really did enjoy that one but I feel like The Summer of Chasing Mermaids was on a whole other level! That one was published in 2013 so I figure Sarah Ockler has grown so much as an author in 2 years! I already enjoyed The Book of Broken Hearts a lot, so you can imagine how I feel about this one.
I’ve read quite a few young adult contemporaries and sometimes when I read another one, I just feel “meh” about it. Like I’ve read the story before… It’s never exactly the same, but it feels like a déjà vu. Have any of you ever had that? This book was the total opposite of it. I’ve read novels before where the main character loses their future but it still felt so unique and different to me. The first thing you need to know is that Elyse is the youngest -sort of- of 6 sisters. Her mom died at birth, lost to the sea, and so she and her sisters have been living with their Granna ever since. She owns a cocoa plantation/resort in Tobago and they are RICH. Elyse has a twin sister, Natalie, and they have always envisioned one future for themselves: touring around the world, singing. They have wonderful voices on their own, but the harmonization between them is priceless. Then something happens to Elyse at sea and she loses everything. Her voice, which means everything she has ever been and wanted to be.
So she moves from Tobago to Oregon to try and come to terms with everything she has lost. The first aspect I really enjoyed was Elyse, the main character. She is very different -especially in background and culture- than any other main characters I’ve read. She was raised in Tobago, a country and culture I really know nothing about. So it was very interesting to learn about her life there! The Carnival that was so dear to her heart, the climate, the traditional foods, etc. I loved it all. Plus, I really want to visit the twin islands now! And reading about the Cove, where Elyse stays during the actual story, was wonderful as well! It just all seems so peaceful.
CHARACTERS
Let’s talk about the main characters a bit. First up: Elyse. I honestly felt so bad for her. To lose the thing you define yourself by must be excruciating. And to see her twin sister, who still has everything she has lost, has to be bittersweet. Because of course Elyse loves her and wants all the best for her, but on the other hand, how can she be happy for her? It must hurt so much. And while she does isolate herself and wallow -because let’s be honest, we all would- she meets new people and makes new friends as well. She lives with Lemon and her daughter Kirby. Lemon is Elyse’s aunt and one of the residents of the Cove. I loved ALL of the characters for different reasons. Except Mr. Kane. Him, I kind of hate/intensely dislike.
In my opinion, Elyse is such a strong person. She has lost so much dear to her but doesn’t -completely- break down. She does shut people out and has a VERY hard time accepting what she has lost. But I honestly loved her character. Because she can’t talk, she communicates by giving looks and writing down what she wants to say. The most interesting part about this is that often, when she writes her thoughts down they come out as poems. Isn’t that incredible? Anyway, I definitely enjoyed her character development and even though I sometimes didn’t understand her way of thinking, it always seemed interesting to me.
Then there is Christian -not Chris. How I adore him. I don’t really want to tell you too much about him because that would make reading it less fun. What I will tell you however is that he adores his little brother, his friends and sailing. And that he is trying to figure out what on earth he wants out of life. And I can’t not talk about Sebastian, Christian’s little brother. THAT KID IS SO ADORABLE. Sebastian believes in mermaids, and what better place to search for them than at the Cove? I absolutely loved him.
There are so many other characters I absolutely loved as well. Vanessa, because I never really know what to make of her, Kirby, because she genuinely tries to help Elyse in ever way she can, Lemon, because she is a totally awesome witch, etc. This book is definitely character-driven.
PLOT
As I have mentioned before, Elyse lives with her aunt, Lemon, and her daughter Kirby. But developers want to buy most of the property, which will basically turn the place into the typical tourist trap instead of the quiet and beautiful place it is now. Plus, a lot of people would lose their homes and incomes. In the beginning of the book, Mr. Kane -Christian’s dad- and the mayor, Mr. Katz I believe -Noah’s dad- make a wager. If Christian wins the sailing race called the Pirate Regatta, Noah will have to give his beloved boat to Christian. If he loses however, Mr. Kane will sell his property to the developers. Noah and Christian are best friends and have always done the race together. Now however, they have to race each other and the stakes are VERY high.
I hated that two people could make a bet out of arrogance that could/would lead to so many people they knew losing their homes. How can anyone make a decision like that? There’s a quote from this book -from Elyse- that makes me think of those poor people, who can’t do anything but helplessly watch and hope Christian wins the race.
And while the romance is kind of important to the story, I felt like the author made Elyse’s “mental journey” the focal point -as it should be. There is still an awesome romance present, but it’s also about rediscovering yourself, about friends and family, about acceptance and finding out what you want from life.
CONCLUSION
I would HIGHLY recommend this book. I absolutely loved it. Besides it being an adorable romance, it has some other important elements to it, as I mentioned above. I will leave you with two more quotes I have taken from the acknowledgments, that I absolutely adored.
Before I requested this book, I had read exactly one Sarah Ockler book, The Book of Broken Hearts. I really did enjoy that one but I feel like The Summer of Chasing Mermaids was on a whole other level! That one was published in 2013 so I figure Sarah Ockler has grown so much as an author in 2 years! I already enjoyed The Book of Broken Hearts a lot, so you can imagine how I feel about this one.
I’ve read quite a few young adult contemporaries and sometimes when I read another one, I just feel “meh” about it. Like I’ve read the story before… It’s never exactly the same, but it feels like a déjà vu. Have any of you ever had that? This book was the total opposite of it. I’ve read novels before where the main character loses their future but it still felt so unique and different to me. The first thing you need to know is that Elyse is the youngest -sort of- of 6 sisters. Her mom died at birth, lost to the sea, and so she and her sisters have been living with their Granna ever since. She owns a cocoa plantation/resort in Tobago and they are RICH. Elyse has a twin sister, Natalie, and they have always envisioned one future for themselves: touring around the world, singing. They have wonderful voices on their own, but the harmonization between them is priceless. Then something happens to Elyse at sea and she loses everything. Her voice, which means everything she has ever been and wanted to be.
So she moves from Tobago to Oregon to try and come to terms with everything she has lost. The first aspect I really enjoyed was Elyse, the main character. She is very different -especially in background and culture- than any other main characters I’ve read. She was raised in Tobago, a country and culture I really know nothing about. So it was very interesting to learn about her life there! The Carnival that was so dear to her heart, the climate, the traditional foods, etc. I loved it all. Plus, I really want to visit the twin islands now! And reading about the Cove, where Elyse stays during the actual story, was wonderful as well! It just all seems so peaceful.
CHARACTERS
Let’s talk about the main characters a bit. First up: Elyse. I honestly felt so bad for her. To lose the thing you define yourself by must be excruciating. And to see her twin sister, who still has everything she has lost, has to be bittersweet. Because of course Elyse loves her and wants all the best for her, but on the other hand, how can she be happy for her? It must hurt so much. And while she does isolate herself and wallow -because let’s be honest, we all would- she meets new people and makes new friends as well. She lives with Lemon and her daughter Kirby. Lemon is Elyse’s aunt and one of the residents of the Cove. I loved ALL of the characters for different reasons. Except Mr. Kane. Him, I kind of hate/intensely dislike.
In my opinion, Elyse is such a strong person. She has lost so much dear to her but doesn’t -completely- break down. She does shut people out and has a VERY hard time accepting what she has lost. But I honestly loved her character. Because she can’t talk, she communicates by giving looks and writing down what she wants to say. The most interesting part about this is that often, when she writes her thoughts down they come out as poems. Isn’t that incredible? Anyway, I definitely enjoyed her character development and even though I sometimes didn’t understand her way of thinking, it always seemed interesting to me.
Then there is Christian -not Chris. How I adore him. I don’t really want to tell you too much about him because that would make reading it less fun. What I will tell you however is that he adores his little brother, his friends and sailing. And that he is trying to figure out what on earth he wants out of life. And I can’t not talk about Sebastian, Christian’s little brother. THAT KID IS SO ADORABLE. Sebastian believes in mermaids, and what better place to search for them than at the Cove? I absolutely loved him.
There are so many other characters I absolutely loved as well. Vanessa, because I never really know what to make of her, Kirby, because she genuinely tries to help Elyse in ever way she can, Lemon, because she is a totally awesome witch, etc. This book is definitely character-driven.
PLOT
As I have mentioned before, Elyse lives with her aunt, Lemon, and her daughter Kirby. But developers want to buy most of the property, which will basically turn the place into the typical tourist trap instead of the quiet and beautiful place it is now. Plus, a lot of people would lose their homes and incomes. In the beginning of the book, Mr. Kane -Christian’s dad- and the mayor, Mr. Katz I believe -Noah’s dad- make a wager. If Christian wins the sailing race called the Pirate Regatta, Noah will have to give his beloved boat to Christian. If he loses however, Mr. Kane will sell his property to the developers. Noah and Christian are best friends and have always done the race together. Now however, they have to race each other and the stakes are VERY high.
I hated that two people could make a bet out of arrogance that could/would lead to so many people they knew losing their homes. How can anyone make a decision like that? There’s a quote from this book -from Elyse- that makes me think of those poor people, who can’t do anything but helplessly watch and hope Christian wins the race.
Behind its protective seashell, the starfish scar on my throat burned. There were lots of ways to lose your voice.
And while the romance is kind of important to the story, I felt like the author made Elyse’s “mental journey” the focal point -as it should be. There is still an awesome romance present, but it’s also about rediscovering yourself, about friends and family, about acceptance and finding out what you want from life.
CONCLUSION
I would HIGHLY recommend this book. I absolutely loved it. Besides it being an adorable romance, it has some other important elements to it, as I mentioned above. I will leave you with two more quotes I have taken from the acknowledgments, that I absolutely adored.
The intentions and methods by which people silence one another may be wildly different, but the outcome is always the same: someone’s voice goes unheard.
I wrote this story for and because of you. Know that you are not invisible. Know that you matter. Know that your voice matters. And know that there are people out htere who want and need to hear that beautiful voice of yours, whenever you’re ready, however you’re able to express it. Believe in you. I do.
With respect and admiration,
Sarah.
cat55's review against another edition
4.0
A cute, well paced story with enough mystery and intrigue to keep you reading. The main characters were likeable and the chemistry between Elysse and Christian was perfect. The side characters were all supportive of one another and there wasn't any toxicity and jealousy which I prefer in romance books.
I was unsure about how much you were meant to take the mystical elements seriously or not and I wish the author made it a bit more clear.
I was unsure about how much you were meant to take the mystical elements seriously or not and I wish the author made it a bit more clear.
courtneys__library's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5. This was cute but pretty boring and uneventful.
jang's review
5.0
A book that is supremely feminist and sex-positive, celebrating folklores and tradition, educating readers about mermaids, and keeps having REGGAE NIGHTS in between chapters gets a major YASSS from me!
I love the book from start to finish because as a frustrated fairy, it keeps on giving hints and s/o to the natural mystic and the more "enchanting" side of the supernatural world. At first the tone of the protagonist (Elyse) sounds like a character from the movie Aloha or a gypsy twin of Shailene Woodley what with her accounts and retellings of the myths and folklore back in Trinidad and Tobago and her newfound safe haven, Oregon. But as the story progressed I found myself hooked.
THE BEST THING about the story, because it's low-key feminist, is the way it tells female readers to HAVE A VOICE and use that voice for equality. There was never a woman who sailed before the regatta competition? Fuck that, Elyse knows the difference between a mainsail and a jib, of course she's IN. A little boy wasn't allowed to join the mermaid parade because it's strictly for females and he should be a pirate instead? Screw it he wanted to have a mermaid shin, let him have a temporary fin! I am so into books that are not minding the bollocks and teach kids to defy conformity.
I love all the messages of the book about equality and the process of carefully expressing yourself. We're still living in a man's world. And that's basically the reason why stories like this needs to be told to young female readers so they will grow up not only as good girls, but also as strong, empowered women. Females are sensitive, deep-thinking creatures that's why we should never cower to the demands of sexist m'urfuckers.
Another thing I loved about TSoCM was the setting and the general tone of the book. Rural, preserved, mystical places that couldn't be traced using GPS trackers awaken the boho in me. It's as if the book used a very pagan approach by the way it glorified the sea and the moon and earth. It kinda reminded me of John Steinbeck's The Pearl. This is like Steinbeck's The Pearl for young, driven, feminist teens. It's informative even if those topics aren't really for everyone.
The love story I wasn't really crazy about because I liked to pretend I know Christian and I'm sure there's still a manhoe inside him and he'd still troll when he's not with Elyse LMAO. But I'm also sure Elyse got her shit handled. She already braved a furious Atargatis, I'm sure she could also weather a simple heartbreak. Girlfriend is a true mermaid queen.
I identified best with this author because everything that transpired in this book sounds like my dream summer getaway. Folklore parades.. reggae nights.. bonfires by the beach.. summer fling.. boat sex.. Nahhh okay scratch the last one.
I love the book from start to finish because as a frustrated fairy, it keeps on giving hints and s/o to the natural mystic and the more "enchanting" side of the supernatural world. At first the tone of the protagonist (Elyse) sounds like a character from the movie Aloha or a gypsy twin of Shailene Woodley what with her accounts and retellings of the myths and folklore back in Trinidad and Tobago and her newfound safe haven, Oregon. But as the story progressed I found myself hooked.
THE BEST THING about the story, because it's low-key feminist, is the way it tells female readers to HAVE A VOICE and use that voice for equality. There was never a woman who sailed before the regatta competition? Fuck that, Elyse knows the difference between a mainsail and a jib, of course she's IN. A little boy wasn't allowed to join the mermaid parade because it's strictly for females and he should be a pirate instead? Screw it he wanted to have a mermaid shin, let him have a temporary fin! I am so into books that are not minding the bollocks and teach kids to defy conformity.
I love all the messages of the book about equality and the process of carefully expressing yourself. We're still living in a man's world. And that's basically the reason why stories like this needs to be told to young female readers so they will grow up not only as good girls, but also as strong, empowered women. Females are sensitive, deep-thinking creatures that's why we should never cower to the demands of sexist m'urfuckers.
Another thing I loved about TSoCM was the setting and the general tone of the book. Rural, preserved, mystical places that couldn't be traced using GPS trackers awaken the boho in me. It's as if the book used a very pagan approach by the way it glorified the sea and the moon and earth. It kinda reminded me of John Steinbeck's The Pearl. This is like Steinbeck's The Pearl for young, driven, feminist teens. It's informative even if those topics aren't really for everyone.
The love story I wasn't really crazy about because I liked to pretend I know Christian and I'm sure there's still a manhoe inside him and he'd still troll when he's not with Elyse LMAO. But I'm also sure Elyse got her shit handled. She already braved a furious Atargatis, I'm sure she could also weather a simple heartbreak. Girlfriend is a true mermaid queen.
I identified best with this author because everything that transpired in this book sounds like my dream summer getaway. Folklore parades.. reggae nights.. bonfires by the beach.. summer fling.. boat sex.. Nahhh okay scratch the last one.