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Riptide
Grace has one summer to prove she’s good enough
For Grace Parker, surfing is all about the ride and the moment. Everything else disappears. She can forget that her best friend, Ford Watson, has a crush on her that she can’t reciprocate. She can forget how badly she wants to get a surf scholarship to UC San Diego. She can forget the pressure of her parents’ impossibly high expectations.
When Ford enters Grace into a surf competition—the only way she can impress the UCSD surfing scouts—she has one summer to train and prepare. Will she gain everything she’s ever wanted or lose the only things that ever mattered?
For Grace Parker, surfing is all about the ride and the moment. Everything else disappears. She can forget that her best friend, Ford Watson, has a crush on her that she can’t reciprocate. She can forget how badly she wants to get a surf scholarship to UC San Diego. She can forget the pressure of her parents’ impossibly high expectations.
When Ford enters Grace into a surf competition—the only way she can impress the UCSD surfing scouts—she has one summer to train and prepare. Will she gain everything she’s ever wanted or lose the only things that ever mattered?
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2013
About the author
Lindsey Scheibe
1 book19 followersLindsey Scheibe loves writing, rock climbing, surfing, traveling, and outdoor adventures. She writes Young Adult novels and is represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4E0 Literary Agency. She lives in the Austin area with her husband and two children.
Upon graduating college, “Sic’em Bears,” she packed everything in her little bitty car and drove to Colorado where she spent the summer mountain guiding. Someday, this fun will be useful to her.
Fast forward several years later… she is married to an amazing man and has two equally incredible children. She spends a lot of time laughing with her husband.
In all her spare time, hahaha, she spent the past six years either volunteering with Adventure Crew (coed HS scouts) or her church’s youth group where she had the fun of hanging out with the same group of girls from their freshman to senior year. Now that they’re all grown up, she’s taking time off to focus on being wife, mommy, and writer.
Upon graduating college, “Sic’em Bears,” she packed everything in her little bitty car and drove to Colorado where she spent the summer mountain guiding. Someday, this fun will be useful to her.
Fast forward several years later… she is married to an amazing man and has two equally incredible children. She spends a lot of time laughing with her husband.
In all her spare time, hahaha, she spent the past six years either volunteering with Adventure Crew (coed HS scouts) or her church’s youth group where she had the fun of hanging out with the same group of girls from their freshman to senior year. Now that they’re all grown up, she’s taking time off to focus on being wife, mommy, and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
May 16, 2013
3.5 stars
I love picking up books where you go into them expecting a light summery read, but you’re left ending up with a deep emotionally overwhelming story.
Surfing is Grace’s thing, it’s always been something she’s good at. So with a big surfing tournament around the corner and well known scouts rumoured to be there. Grace knows she has to up her game but this gets difficult when her best friend Ford and surf trainer decides to intern at Grace’s dads law firm over the summer. On top of that Grace’s dad puts extra pressure on her to get into one of the Ivy League colleges. Has anyone stopped to see what Grace actually wants to do? She’s getting all this pressure from everyone but shouldn’t she just follow her heart?
I really did feel for Grace, she was always one to keep what was going on in her life private. Her perfect family image everyone saw was a big lie, and these feelings she had for her best friend Ford, she decided to deny whenever it came up. Grace was super talented and she knew she had a great shot at getting scouted, but her parents had entirely different opinions. Grace’s parents were the worst; her dad had a fake facade that had everyone thinking he was a decent man, but then at home he was just hell. Then there was Grace’s mum, she was always quick to make assumptions about everyone and then always put Grace down. However what pained me the most about her was that she was never there when Grace needed her the most, she just shut down everything Grace did or said. Despite having crap parents, Grace tried her best to rise above it all, and I truly did admire her characters strength. She did make a few mistakes along the way, but hiding a secret as big as she did, I understood why she kept everything away from Ford.
With dual narratives from both Grace and Ford, we were given great insights into both characters. I adored Ford (his real name is Ferdinand, which I preferred) he was sweet, down to earth and such a fun guy. He had his over protective role over Grace nailed, but he was also able to lighten the mood with his jokes and banter. But what I adored the most about was him that he always knew what mattered to him the most; his family and his roots, he was never one to forget how important this was and tried to as much as he could to make a difference. Ford’s parents were also great; they clearly illustrated what honest parents are meant to be like with their insightful wisdom they imparted on Ford, and how they were also quick to take Grace in whenever she needed a place to hang out.
Despite some of the focus on dark family issues, Riptide was also a story laced with scenes of summer fun and beautiful friendships. There was a lot of surf lingo dotted throughout, but just like Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar, I still found myself enthralled by a mesmerising read. Riptide was a story I’m glad I gave a try; it was littered with beautiful achy scenes, but also a lot of fun along the way. If you’re in the mood for something different I definitely recommend giving Riptide a try.
I love picking up books where you go into them expecting a light summery read, but you’re left ending up with a deep emotionally overwhelming story.
Surfing is Grace’s thing, it’s always been something she’s good at. So with a big surfing tournament around the corner and well known scouts rumoured to be there. Grace knows she has to up her game but this gets difficult when her best friend Ford and surf trainer decides to intern at Grace’s dads law firm over the summer. On top of that Grace’s dad puts extra pressure on her to get into one of the Ivy League colleges. Has anyone stopped to see what Grace actually wants to do? She’s getting all this pressure from everyone but shouldn’t she just follow her heart?
I really did feel for Grace, she was always one to keep what was going on in her life private. Her perfect family image everyone saw was a big lie, and these feelings she had for her best friend Ford, she decided to deny whenever it came up. Grace was super talented and she knew she had a great shot at getting scouted, but her parents had entirely different opinions. Grace’s parents were the worst; her dad had a fake facade that had everyone thinking he was a decent man, but then at home he was just hell. Then there was Grace’s mum, she was always quick to make assumptions about everyone and then always put Grace down. However what pained me the most about her was that she was never there when Grace needed her the most, she just shut down everything Grace did or said. Despite having crap parents, Grace tried her best to rise above it all, and I truly did admire her characters strength. She did make a few mistakes along the way, but hiding a secret as big as she did, I understood why she kept everything away from Ford.
With dual narratives from both Grace and Ford, we were given great insights into both characters. I adored Ford (his real name is Ferdinand, which I preferred) he was sweet, down to earth and such a fun guy. He had his over protective role over Grace nailed, but he was also able to lighten the mood with his jokes and banter. But what I adored the most about was him that he always knew what mattered to him the most; his family and his roots, he was never one to forget how important this was and tried to as much as he could to make a difference. Ford’s parents were also great; they clearly illustrated what honest parents are meant to be like with their insightful wisdom they imparted on Ford, and how they were also quick to take Grace in whenever she needed a place to hang out.
Despite some of the focus on dark family issues, Riptide was also a story laced with scenes of summer fun and beautiful friendships. There was a lot of surf lingo dotted throughout, but just like Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar, I still found myself enthralled by a mesmerising read. Riptide was a story I’m glad I gave a try; it was littered with beautiful achy scenes, but also a lot of fun along the way. If you’re in the mood for something different I definitely recommend giving Riptide a try.
July 16, 2015
Did Not Finish.
This irked me from the start. The writing seemed too juvenile but the innuendos and teenage dialogue made it clear it was anything but. There were one too many, "Whatevs," for my taste and the main character really got on my bad side. She was whiny, boastful, and way too full of herself. She lets her boyfriend-not-boyfriend zip up her wetsuit "not because I can't do it myself but it's something nice he can do for me." Right away I could tell we were going to have problems. Ford seemed like a very protective love interest, and not in a good way. He seems like the type who would order everyone to stop living their lives just because the main character got a paper cut or something.
This was not for me at all.
This irked me from the start. The writing seemed too juvenile but the innuendos and teenage dialogue made it clear it was anything but. There were one too many, "Whatevs," for my taste and the main character really got on my bad side. She was whiny, boastful, and way too full of herself. She lets her boyfriend-not-boyfriend zip up her wetsuit "not because I can't do it myself but it's something nice he can do for me." Right away I could tell we were going to have problems. Ford seemed like a very protective love interest, and not in a good way. He seems like the type who would order everyone to stop living their lives just because the main character got a paper cut or something.
This was not for me at all.
August 13, 2020
I walked into Riptide ready for a breezy summer read with surfing, cute teen romance, and maybe some more serious issues thrown in on top. Rather, what I got was a weakly-written dramafest where the surfing element was boring, one narrator was sexist and annoying, one narrator was a slut-shaming mess, and where the “romance” seemed more like a bickering match between a couple 2 seconds away from breaking up with no hope of making things work. Yeah. Obviously, this book didn’t work for me at all.
Grace, one of the characters, wants to be a pro-surfer, but is weighed down by the expectations of her controlling and dysfunctional parents—her dad hits her and her mom is in denial. She spends the whole summer sneaking out to sit on her surfboard and try, yet again to convince herself that she’s a good surfer, and fighting with her best friend, Ford, even though it was pretty obvious that the two of them didn’t get along too well. And she also calls another girl a “ho-bag” for showing interest in a single, romantically available boy (even though Grace herself flirts all the time). Real winner here.
Ford, on the other hand, is half-Mexican. And in case you forget, he announces it at least twice a chapter. It’s like, okay, Ms. Scheibe, I get that you’re cool and culturally diverse, but try to be more subtle. Ford also appoints himself to be Grace’s watchdog, making sure she doesn’t date anyone inappropriate. Because obviously he thinks she’s too stupid too think for herself. Another winner!
Now, before I veer into the prepared ranting section of this review, I must commend the author for a good portrayal of a screwed up family and physical abuse. That aspect of the book was quite well-done, if a little over-the-top as far as showiness goes. I actually almost considered bumping this up to 2 stars for that aspect. But then I remembered how absolutely furious Riptide as a whole made me, and I didn’t.
So I think my main problem with this book was the two narrating characters, Grace and Ford—namely their blatant hypocrisy. Grace flirts with Ford and with other surfers she comes across, but the second some “leggy blonde” dares to give Ford her number, she’s deemed a “ho-bag” and treated like worse than trash. And this is about 2 chapters after Grace was bemoaning the way guys could sleep around and be “heroes” while girls could do the same and be considered “sluts.” Hypocrisy much?
And then there’s Ford, who has decided to spend the whole summer making sure that Grace stays away from boys, especially bad ones. Excuse me, dude, but are you Grace’s parent or her caretaker in some way? No. You’re supposed to be her best friend. Best friends don’t act like policemen and completely disrespect a woman’s right to make her own choices, and—if it comes to that—to make her own mistakes. Oh, and then this is rich: at one point Ford says to Grace, “You know, Grace, I don’t need your approval or permission to date anyone.” WHAT?! You sexist hypocrite!!! STOP.
Oh, and then going back to the whole Ford is half-Mexican and it’s his defining characteristic (which is rather racist when one thinks about it). Seriously, the only two things I know for sure about Ford are that he’s Hispanic and that he tends to have sweat stains in his armpits. Lindsey Scheibe seemed to remind readers that she'd written a “diverse” book at every given opportunity. As a minority member, I felt she was trying too hard. Maybe other readers won’t feel the same, but I did. It’s one thing to have POC characters, and it’s another thing to grandstand and wave your arms like “hey, look at my characters, they’re diverse! And because their skin isn’t white, I don’t have to give them any depth or personality, hah!” It was, honestly, annoying. And infuriating.
Also, Riptide wasn’t written very well. Scheibe’s prose was weak and dull, not at all captivating, and slightly juvenile in spots. And, while I recognize this is an ARC I’m reviewing and not a final copy—holy typos, Batman. I dearly hope they get a copy-editor on this book before it goes to print.
Sadly, even though I love family drama and this type of novel in general, Riptide had too many other glaring faults for me to even attempt to enjoy it. This entire novel felt to me like one big piece of hypocrisy, and I really couldn’t stand the mixed messages Scheibe was sending to her readers.
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Grace, one of the characters, wants to be a pro-surfer, but is weighed down by the expectations of her controlling and dysfunctional parents—her dad hits her and her mom is in denial. She spends the whole summer sneaking out to sit on her surfboard and try, yet again to convince herself that she’s a good surfer, and fighting with her best friend, Ford, even though it was pretty obvious that the two of them didn’t get along too well. And she also calls another girl a “ho-bag” for showing interest in a single, romantically available boy (even though Grace herself flirts all the time). Real winner here.
Ford, on the other hand, is half-Mexican. And in case you forget, he announces it at least twice a chapter. It’s like, okay, Ms. Scheibe, I get that you’re cool and culturally diverse, but try to be more subtle. Ford also appoints himself to be Grace’s watchdog, making sure she doesn’t date anyone inappropriate. Because obviously he thinks she’s too stupid too think for herself. Another winner!
Now, before I veer into the prepared ranting section of this review, I must commend the author for a good portrayal of a screwed up family and physical abuse. That aspect of the book was quite well-done, if a little over-the-top as far as showiness goes. I actually almost considered bumping this up to 2 stars for that aspect. But then I remembered how absolutely furious Riptide as a whole made me, and I didn’t.
So I think my main problem with this book was the two narrating characters, Grace and Ford—namely their blatant hypocrisy. Grace flirts with Ford and with other surfers she comes across, but the second some “leggy blonde” dares to give Ford her number, she’s deemed a “ho-bag” and treated like worse than trash. And this is about 2 chapters after Grace was bemoaning the way guys could sleep around and be “heroes” while girls could do the same and be considered “sluts.” Hypocrisy much?
And then there’s Ford, who has decided to spend the whole summer making sure that Grace stays away from boys, especially bad ones. Excuse me, dude, but are you Grace’s parent or her caretaker in some way? No. You’re supposed to be her best friend. Best friends don’t act like policemen and completely disrespect a woman’s right to make her own choices, and—if it comes to that—to make her own mistakes. Oh, and then this is rich: at one point Ford says to Grace, “You know, Grace, I don’t need your approval or permission to date anyone.” WHAT?! You sexist hypocrite!!! STOP.
Oh, and then going back to the whole Ford is half-Mexican and it’s his defining characteristic (which is rather racist when one thinks about it). Seriously, the only two things I know for sure about Ford are that he’s Hispanic and that he tends to have sweat stains in his armpits. Lindsey Scheibe seemed to remind readers that she'd written a “diverse” book at every given opportunity. As a minority member, I felt she was trying too hard. Maybe other readers won’t feel the same, but I did. It’s one thing to have POC characters, and it’s another thing to grandstand and wave your arms like “hey, look at my characters, they’re diverse! And because their skin isn’t white, I don’t have to give them any depth or personality, hah!” It was, honestly, annoying. And infuriating.
Also, Riptide wasn’t written very well. Scheibe’s prose was weak and dull, not at all captivating, and slightly juvenile in spots. And, while I recognize this is an ARC I’m reviewing and not a final copy—holy typos, Batman. I dearly hope they get a copy-editor on this book before it goes to print.
Sadly, even though I love family drama and this type of novel in general, Riptide had too many other glaring faults for me to even attempt to enjoy it. This entire novel felt to me like one big piece of hypocrisy, and I really couldn’t stand the mixed messages Scheibe was sending to her readers.
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January 1, 2013
Also posted on the blog: http://jana-thebookgoddess.blogspot.c...
I was really quite disappointed with this book and it pains me to give it only a two-star rating. The book summary and the cover just made me very excited for this and I'm afraid it didn't deliver.
I was quite surprised to find out that this was both Grace AND Ford's POV. From the book summary, I thought it would be all Grace, but obviously it wasn't. The dual POV didn't really work that well because I found their voices quite similar, and numerous times I had to look back and check which person was actually narrating. And that's a big no no for dual povs. The only good thing about it was that we both knew what the other was doing, apart from spending time together surfing.
The characters were kinda stereotypical, especially the parents. You have Grace's parents who are strict, and over-protective and blah blah blah. And then the opposite with Ford's mum who's ever so caring and easygoing. It was just one of the things that I've read a lot about before so I was really tired of it.
You guys know how much I love and need my romance, right? Well, the romance in this book was very underwhelming and it look at least half of the book before anything happens. I kinda wanted to bang their heads together and scream 'Just kiss!' Jesus. There was a whole lot of obstacles that they needed to face, I get that, but it was just boring to me. I need my kissing scenes, people.
I've never read a YA book (or any book, for that matter) that had any surfing in it so I was so looking forward. I don't know a THING about surfing, unforetunately living in rainy always England I actually never had a chance to surf. Well, this book kinda turned me off surfing. Eek.
All in all, it had great promise but ultimately failed to deliver.
I was really quite disappointed with this book and it pains me to give it only a two-star rating. The book summary and the cover just made me very excited for this and I'm afraid it didn't deliver.
I was quite surprised to find out that this was both Grace AND Ford's POV. From the book summary, I thought it would be all Grace, but obviously it wasn't. The dual POV didn't really work that well because I found their voices quite similar, and numerous times I had to look back and check which person was actually narrating. And that's a big no no for dual povs. The only good thing about it was that we both knew what the other was doing, apart from spending time together surfing.
The characters were kinda stereotypical, especially the parents. You have Grace's parents who are strict, and over-protective and blah blah blah. And then the opposite with Ford's mum who's ever so caring and easygoing. It was just one of the things that I've read a lot about before so I was really tired of it.
You guys know how much I love and need my romance, right? Well, the romance in this book was very underwhelming and it look at least half of the book before anything happens. I kinda wanted to bang their heads together and scream 'Just kiss!' Jesus. There was a whole lot of obstacles that they needed to face, I get that, but it was just boring to me. I need my kissing scenes, people.
I've never read a YA book (or any book, for that matter) that had any surfing in it so I was so looking forward. I don't know a THING about surfing, unforetunately living in rainy always England I actually never had a chance to surf. Well, this book kinda turned me off surfing. Eek.
All in all, it had great promise but ultimately failed to deliver.
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May 16, 2013You can find more of my reviews at Forever 17 Books.
DNF
I promised myself that I would learn to let go of books that weren't working for me instead of wasting so much time forcing myself through them. Unfortunately, Riptide is another casualty of this.
I made it to about 44% before I gave it the heave-ho. It wasn't necessarily bad. And I didn't find myself hating anything I did read. But I felt no connection the the characters and no interest in what was going on with them. In a word, I was BORED. There was no reason to continue on for me at this point.
Grace is a girl who is hiding abuse and problems going on at home. She dreams to go to college on a surfing scholarship. Ford is her best friend who apparently has deeper feelings for her, but is trying to hide them because her father is his new boss who asked for his help in keeping her focused on school and not boys (isn't it summer?). Ford wants to find a way to help illegal immigrants becomes citizens in the US after the loss of a friend so this internship is extremely important to him and his future plans. Both stories sound interesting, right? But I don't know, the execution felt bland to me. And I never got any real longing of romance that I expected. I mean, Ford was supposed to be seriously crushing on Grace. Besides trying to keep her away from other boys, I didn't feel any romantic connection.
DNF
I promised myself that I would learn to let go of books that weren't working for me instead of wasting so much time forcing myself through them. Unfortunately, Riptide is another casualty of this.
I made it to about 44% before I gave it the heave-ho. It wasn't necessarily bad. And I didn't find myself hating anything I did read. But I felt no connection the the characters and no interest in what was going on with them. In a word, I was BORED. There was no reason to continue on for me at this point.
Grace is a girl who is hiding abuse and problems going on at home. She dreams to go to college on a surfing scholarship. Ford is her best friend who apparently has deeper feelings for her, but is trying to hide them because her father is his new boss who asked for his help in keeping her focused on school and not boys (isn't it summer?). Ford wants to find a way to help illegal immigrants becomes citizens in the US after the loss of a friend so this internship is extremely important to him and his future plans. Both stories sound interesting, right? But I don't know, the execution felt bland to me. And I never got any real longing of romance that I expected. I mean, Ford was supposed to be seriously crushing on Grace. Besides trying to keep her away from other boys, I didn't feel any romantic connection.
April 11, 2018
I want to say, the little synopsis of the book is very misleading. It makes this book seem like a light hearted summer read about surfing and it is definitely a lot more serious than that. Also, it makes it seem like there is only one perspective, but in fact, the book is from both Grace and Ford's point of views.
As mentioned above, this book does deal with serious topics such as abuse and immigration. I found the abuse representation to be fairly accurate and it showed the struggles of someone dealing with an abusive family. It doesn't just deal with physical abuse either, but also emotional and mental. It was done really well and I give props to the author for that. On the other hand, the topic of immigration was not focused on as much. It felt like it was put in there to give Ford something to focus on, but never really went in depth with it. It wasn't an aspect of the book that held my interest.
Ford and Grace. I loved them together and was rooting for them the entire way. Mrs. Watson was a side character that really shined and she was a great source of positivity throughout. I'm also happy with the ending of the book and how it speaks to the reality of the situation.
*Note: I did find some of the terminology used in the book very stereotypical surfer. And the use of "femme" to describe the girls.*
As mentioned above, this book does deal with serious topics such as abuse and immigration. I found the abuse representation to be fairly accurate and it showed the struggles of someone dealing with an abusive family. It doesn't just deal with physical abuse either, but also emotional and mental. It was done really well and I give props to the author for that. On the other hand, the topic of immigration was not focused on as much. It felt like it was put in there to give Ford something to focus on, but never really went in depth with it. It wasn't an aspect of the book that held my interest.
Ford and Grace. I loved them together and was rooting for them the entire way. Mrs. Watson was a side character that really shined and she was a great source of positivity throughout. I'm also happy with the ending of the book and how it speaks to the reality of the situation.
*Note: I did find some of the terminology used in the book very stereotypical surfer. And the use of "femme" to describe the girls.*
October 8, 2017
There's a lot of negative views on this book, but I have to say I really enjoyed this book a lot.
April 2, 2023
teen beach movie but they don’t go to the 60’s and her dad beats her🫢🫢
July 1, 2013
This weekend, I read a YA novel (Young Adult novel) called Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe. I cracked it open for a light summer read as I curled up in bed. I teach a university course on coming-of-age themes, so YA literature is more than a "guilty pleasure."(Oh that I could teach a course on wine-tasting.)
Riptide was not a light summer romance, which is what I thought it might be from the cover. It's a story of two teens, best friends who have fallen in love but, for several reasons, can't bring themselves to submit to their feelings. Grace Parker surfs to forget about her troubled home life and her confusing feelings for her best friend, Ford. And Ford is entangled in a tricky employment situation with Grace's father, which prevents him from confessing his love to Grace. Both Grace and Ford narrate alternating chapters. Perfect setup for a book for teens.
I couldn't put the book down for long. Literally. When I needed to take my son somewhere, I put the book in my purse so I could read it at Jules' tennis lesson or the car wash or the grocery story checkout line. I am not kidding. I even pulled it from my purse at red lights so I could read a few sentences. That's kind of embarrassing to admit. This is not literary fiction. It's full of surf jargon, teen angst, and "whatev"s. It's about how teens are cruel to one another, competitive to a flaw, and how, despite our feminist advancements, both girls and boys still see each other in (and limited by) the gender-constructs of the past. But that is one reason why I couldn't get my paws off the book. I was a teenager again, feeling those angsty emotions, in spite of the safe-calm of my current life.
The other reason is this: Grace is in an abusive situation at home, and the tension is cable-tight. I knew things were going to be okay in the end, but I needed to see Grace's decision, the one that would free her. And the end of the book was satisfying. All the little plot lines didn't magically resolve, and some were left stranded. But they needed to be abandoned. That's the point of the book. Sometimes we abandon things to make the right decision in life.
Teenagers who speak their own dialect are not stupid. Teenagers who suffer indecision and inconsistency are psychologically normal. Intense angst over romance/love does feature prominently in the lives of many (of not most) teens. And, unfortunately, so do "issues." One in every four girls will be sexually abused by the time she's 18, according to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. Imagine how many others suffer from physical (beating) abuse and neglect. These are the unfortunate ones that I wrote about in a previous post. Books like Riptide tap into the heart of the unfortunate readers, those who have secrets, shame, and fear. Someone else suffers. Someone else has found a way to not only survive, but to find real love. And books like Riptide can give those "fortunate" readers--those who have never suffered abuse--a gift that will enlarge their souls: compassion.
Riptide was not a light summer romance, which is what I thought it might be from the cover. It's a story of two teens, best friends who have fallen in love but, for several reasons, can't bring themselves to submit to their feelings. Grace Parker surfs to forget about her troubled home life and her confusing feelings for her best friend, Ford. And Ford is entangled in a tricky employment situation with Grace's father, which prevents him from confessing his love to Grace. Both Grace and Ford narrate alternating chapters. Perfect setup for a book for teens.
I couldn't put the book down for long. Literally. When I needed to take my son somewhere, I put the book in my purse so I could read it at Jules' tennis lesson or the car wash or the grocery story checkout line. I am not kidding. I even pulled it from my purse at red lights so I could read a few sentences. That's kind of embarrassing to admit. This is not literary fiction. It's full of surf jargon, teen angst, and "whatev"s. It's about how teens are cruel to one another, competitive to a flaw, and how, despite our feminist advancements, both girls and boys still see each other in (and limited by) the gender-constructs of the past. But that is one reason why I couldn't get my paws off the book. I was a teenager again, feeling those angsty emotions, in spite of the safe-calm of my current life.
The other reason is this: Grace is in an abusive situation at home, and the tension is cable-tight. I knew things were going to be okay in the end, but I needed to see Grace's decision, the one that would free her. And the end of the book was satisfying. All the little plot lines didn't magically resolve, and some were left stranded. But they needed to be abandoned. That's the point of the book. Sometimes we abandon things to make the right decision in life.
Teenagers who speak their own dialect are not stupid. Teenagers who suffer indecision and inconsistency are psychologically normal. Intense angst over romance/love does feature prominently in the lives of many (of not most) teens. And, unfortunately, so do "issues." One in every four girls will be sexually abused by the time she's 18, according to the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. Imagine how many others suffer from physical (beating) abuse and neglect. These are the unfortunate ones that I wrote about in a previous post. Books like Riptide tap into the heart of the unfortunate readers, those who have secrets, shame, and fear. Someone else suffers. Someone else has found a way to not only survive, but to find real love. And books like Riptide can give those "fortunate" readers--those who have never suffered abuse--a gift that will enlarge their souls: compassion.
January 17, 2013
My feelings are mixed.
On one hand, the surfing descriptions on the way to catch the waves carried me in the middle of the ocean. From my couch, I felt the salt in the air, I inhaled yummy Monoi sunscreen and my toes reveled in the warmth of the sand while it was snowing in Paris. So I really enjoyed the trip to the beaches of San Diego.
Also liked to go behind appearances. But I found this part too little exploited. Indeed, the reader follows Grace's desires of freedoms. She wants to become masters of her destiny by making her own choices. But the burst of anger and the heavy hand of her father forced the young lady to hide her true nature. Grosso modo (A French expression for Roughly speaking), that's the main idea.
Unfortunately, Grace appears in my mind more like a capricious princess, focused on her own goals, than a victim. But I really like the realistic way Lindsey Scheibe describe the dad's outbursts.The difficulty of knowing when the crises will occur or which element will set the fire. It's unpredictable that what makes them dangerous. Ditto for the guilt purchases and sweet attitude that follow to exonerate the perpetrator.
As for the love story between Grace and Ford, I was disappointed. It's cute at first. Then, for me, it lost its interest to become sometimes annoying. Almost as if the author had lost her way in the labyrinth of teenagers emotions.
In short, this novel has potential but lacks a bit of pep.
Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr...
October 10, 2014
I definitely had some issues with the book but I did like it overall. I think that I would probably give it a higher rating if it wasn't told from two different point of views. In some parts of the book I enjoyed having Ford's view just to see what he is doing and what he does outside of his friendship with Grace. But I wanted to concentrate more on Grace and how she was dealing with the life that has handed to her.
I also like how it ended a little openly, in most books that annoys me to no end or it doesn't work with the book at all, however with this one it worked perfectly. Grace is still trying to deal with life day by day and not everything was perfect in her life. I don't want to give away to much, cause of spoilers.
I know a lot of people had a problem with Grace's attitude, and I guess I don't really see the problem. Her father beats her and the mother seems like she could care less. Yes, she could handle some situations better and with a little less tude but when someone who is supposed to love you also is causing you the worst pain it is gonna screw you up a little bit.
I recommend this book if you want a coming of age story that isn't like most contemporary novels. The main plot isn't about the romance between the two main characters it's about taking control of your life in a way you never thought was possible.
Side note: Just curious but what ever happened to Hein by the way?
I also like how it ended a little openly, in most books that annoys me to no end or it doesn't work with the book at all, however with this one it worked perfectly. Grace is still trying to deal with life day by day and not everything was perfect in her life. I don't want to give away to much, cause of spoilers.
I know a lot of people had a problem with Grace's attitude, and I guess I don't really see the problem. Her father beats her and the mother seems like she could care less. Yes, she could handle some situations better and with a little less tude but when someone who is supposed to love you also is causing you the worst pain it is gonna screw you up a little bit.
I recommend this book if you want a coming of age story that isn't like most contemporary novels. The main plot isn't about the romance between the two main characters it's about taking control of your life in a way you never thought was possible.
Side note: Just curious but what ever happened to Hein by the way?
April 29, 2013
When I requested Riptide by Lindsey Schiebe, I figured that there would be a lot of surfing in the novel. What I wasn’t expecting was Riptide to be an issues book that used surfing as a metaphor for Grace's life – and quite heavy handedly, I might add! Another problem I had with Riptide was that I couldn’t care about Grace, which made the book feel even longer. Lastly, Riptide had a second, unexpected main character – Ford. Unfortunately, Ford’s POV detracts from Grace’s story rather than being a meaningful alternative perspective because the two narratives aren’t linked very cohesively. Also, Ford’s POV made him came off as sort of a jerk. (Grace, on the other hand, seemed kind of selfish from both perspectives.) I think Riptide would have been a better story if it had just been Grace’s story. Ultimately, when I compare Riptide to Kirsty Eagar’s Raw Blue, another issues book with a lot of surfing scenes, I find Riptide to be severely lacking. If you’re an older reader or enjoy New Adult, I’d definitely recommend reading Raw Blue instead.
September 6, 2023
Okay...I've done pretty good but this is my second DNF in the whole thing.
I absolutely hate when authors do multiple perspectives but do not label it as such. How are you supposed to know who is talking? Especially when Ford reminds me more of a teenage girl than the actual teenage girl...
I also have 3 strong peeves from young adult: Unlikeable protagonists. Books obviously trying too hard to cater to the twitter-angry crowd. And...the trope of the boy fixing every girl's life problems. There are truly fewer things that make me want to throw the book AT the author than the trope that somehow this boy magically fixes ALL your severe problems. Minor problems? Sure. Boys do not fix: grief, abuse, lifelong sufferings, severe bullying, cancer, etc. They don't. Stop it. I hate these books so much.
I also have a minor peeve that this author uses so much slang and actual texting style abbreviations. If I want that, I'd go get a B-rated publishing off wattpad. Not an actually fully published novel.
The book nowhere implies how heavy this would get, considering the father of Grace is abusive. So if you are triggered by abuse, do not pick this up.
I absolutely hate when authors do multiple perspectives but do not label it as such. How are you supposed to know who is talking? Especially when Ford reminds me more of a teenage girl than the actual teenage girl...
I also have 3 strong peeves from young adult: Unlikeable protagonists. Books obviously trying too hard to cater to the twitter-angry crowd. And...the trope of the boy fixing every girl's life problems. There are truly fewer things that make me want to throw the book AT the author than the trope that somehow this boy magically fixes ALL your severe problems. Minor problems? Sure. Boys do not fix: grief, abuse, lifelong sufferings, severe bullying, cancer, etc. They don't. Stop it. I hate these books so much.
I also have a minor peeve that this author uses so much slang and actual texting style abbreviations. If I want that, I'd go get a B-rated publishing off wattpad. Not an actually fully published novel.
The book nowhere implies how heavy this would get, considering the father of Grace is abusive. So if you are triggered by abuse, do not pick this up.
January 2, 2013
I was initially excited to read this book as both the title and summary appealed to me. But I must say that from start to finish, I found this book hard to read. Overall, I felt the storyline was under-developed and the characters lacked a feeling of being genuine.
The author told the story from both Grace Parker's and Ford's perspective, navigating each chapter back and forth between the two characters. For me, this was very confusing, considering Grace Parker was the main protagonist, and Ford's character, did little to further the storyline. I had a hard time really understanding why Ford played such an important role; worthy of every other chapter.
There was very little I liked about this book, but one bright spot was at the beginning of each chapter when the author used a quote or definition that would inevitably sum up the feeling of that chapter.
I appreciate the advance read through Netgalley. Please note I have two Goodreads accounts so this review is on both of them until I can figure out how to delete my other account
The author told the story from both Grace Parker's and Ford's perspective, navigating each chapter back and forth between the two characters. For me, this was very confusing, considering Grace Parker was the main protagonist, and Ford's character, did little to further the storyline. I had a hard time really understanding why Ford played such an important role; worthy of every other chapter.
There was very little I liked about this book, but one bright spot was at the beginning of each chapter when the author used a quote or definition that would inevitably sum up the feeling of that chapter.
I appreciate the advance read through Netgalley. Please note I have two Goodreads accounts so this review is on both of them until I can figure out how to delete my other account
May 9, 2013
2.5 stars
I feel like this book had the potential to be a lot better than it was--the bones of something unique and moving were there. But, there were numerous plot holes and some elements that just needed more development as well as some key points that were not particularly realistic or believable for me. It's a three star book because the surfing scenes were great and the multicultural aspect was good too. I wrote an actual review of this one on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves - http://cleareyesfullshelves.com/blog/...
I feel like this book had the potential to be a lot better than it was--the bones of something unique and moving were there. But, there were numerous plot holes and some elements that just needed more development as well as some key points that were not particularly realistic or believable for me. It's a three star book because the surfing scenes were great and the multicultural aspect was good too. I wrote an actual review of this one on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves - http://cleareyesfullshelves.com/blog/...
June 3, 2014
Told in alternating viewpoints, Riptide is a good exploration of identity and what makes a family. The issue of immigration is also dealt with and left up in the air, which really works as an introduction to the gray areas a lot of readers might not have considered before.
February 23, 2019
Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe tells the stories of Ford Watson and Grace Parker, two best friends in the summer going into their senior year of high school. Grace is passionate about surfing, and is determined to catch the eye of college surf scouts but with her inescapable home life struggles getting worse by the day, she is forced to make some serious decisions. Ford's newly gained internship at a law firm, the one Grace's dad just so happens to own, leads him on a mission to help the people in his community all the while facing the scary reality of being an immigrant.
I, like many others who read this book, opened it up thinking it was going to be a really light hearted summer book with a little bit of romance thrown in the mix. Boy was I wrong! Grace is living with an abusive father who's fists do more of the talking. She is forced to live with this secret because every time she tries to talk with her mom, she is reminded that she could have it much worse.
Ford's passion for immigration law sparks from a friendship of his that was cut short. He's now determined to help anyone he can from being deported and killed like his friend was.
All of this is happening without the other one knowing! Ford is also trying to hold in the feelings he's ad for Grace since sophomore year and Grace is too focused on surfing to even notice how much she likes him.
I really liked this book for the most part. The story was really good and I enjoyed how caught off guard I was by the un-light heartedness of the book. It was a great book with lots of surfing, which was really fun to read. I didn't really like how Grace was so reliant on a man to do everything for her. She definitely played a damsel in distress card far too many times.
Other than that, I really did like this book. I really thought it was inspiring when Grace, in the end, decide to read out to Ford and let him know what was happening to her and her mom at home. Because reaching out and getting help is something that's really hard to do and the fact that Lindsey Scheibe was able to write Grace in such a way that shows Grace's growth asa character is really great. I also really enjoyed the alternating POVs! They were really fun to read from because I got so invested with the two characters and their personal paths it really made the book that much better. To be honest though, I kinda wish Grace and Ford didn't get together in the end of the book. We new it was going to happen because they both have feelings for each other, though Grace doesn't know she does. I like them together but I think it would have been a really refreshing story to see a girl and a guy who don't have romantic feelings towards one another, but are just friends. I would've really liked to see this story be about a boy and a girl who are friends and that is it, because girls and boys can be friends without dating or liking on another. But like I said before, I really do like them together.
I think if you're looking for a romance and surfing/ summer/beach book that also has real life issues and problems that are faced in today's world, Riptide is the way to go.
I, like many others who read this book, opened it up thinking it was going to be a really light hearted summer book with a little bit of romance thrown in the mix. Boy was I wrong! Grace is living with an abusive father who's fists do more of the talking. She is forced to live with this secret because every time she tries to talk with her mom, she is reminded that she could have it much worse.
Ford's passion for immigration law sparks from a friendship of his that was cut short. He's now determined to help anyone he can from being deported and killed like his friend was.
All of this is happening without the other one knowing! Ford is also trying to hold in the feelings he's ad for Grace since sophomore year and Grace is too focused on surfing to even notice how much she likes him.
I really liked this book for the most part. The story was really good and I enjoyed how caught off guard I was by the un-light heartedness of the book. It was a great book with lots of surfing, which was really fun to read. I didn't really like how Grace was so reliant on a man to do everything for her. She definitely played a damsel in distress card far too many times.
Other than that, I really did like this book. I really thought it was inspiring when Grace, in the end, decide to read out to Ford and let him know what was happening to her and her mom at home. Because reaching out and getting help is something that's really hard to do and the fact that Lindsey Scheibe was able to write Grace in such a way that shows Grace's growth asa character is really great. I also really enjoyed the alternating POVs! They were really fun to read from because I got so invested with the two characters and their personal paths it really made the book that much better. To be honest though, I kinda wish Grace and Ford didn't get together in the end of the book. We new it was going to happen because they both have feelings for each other, though Grace doesn't know she does. I like them together but I think it would have been a really refreshing story to see a girl and a guy who don't have romantic feelings towards one another, but are just friends. I would've really liked to see this story be about a boy and a girl who are friends and that is it, because girls and boys can be friends without dating or liking on another. But like I said before, I really do like them together.
I think if you're looking for a romance and surfing/ summer/beach book that also has real life issues and problems that are faced in today's world, Riptide is the way to go.
October 6, 2024
Riptide has received mixed reviews, but I found it to be a compelling and engaging read. While some critics dismiss it for its heavier themes, such as family drama and domestic violence, I believe these elements add depth and realism to the narrative.
The story doesn’t shy away from the complexities of life; instead, it embraces them. The characters are flawed and relatable, facing challenges that many can identify with. This authenticity is refreshing in a literary landscape often filled with idealized portrayals.
The writing is evocative, capturing the emotional turmoil of its characters in a way that feels genuine. The author’s ability to weave together these intense themes makes for a thought-provoking read that encourages reflection on real-life issues.
In a world where not every story is a fairytale, Riptide serves as a reminder that life is often messy, but that doesn’t diminish its value. Overall, I found it to be a worthwhile book that resonates on many levels, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a more substantial narrative.
The story doesn’t shy away from the complexities of life; instead, it embraces them. The characters are flawed and relatable, facing challenges that many can identify with. This authenticity is refreshing in a literary landscape often filled with idealized portrayals.
The writing is evocative, capturing the emotional turmoil of its characters in a way that feels genuine. The author’s ability to weave together these intense themes makes for a thought-provoking read that encourages reflection on real-life issues.
In a world where not every story is a fairytale, Riptide serves as a reminder that life is often messy, but that doesn’t diminish its value. Overall, I found it to be a worthwhile book that resonates on many levels, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a more substantial narrative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2020
This is about our main character Grace who wants a different future beside what her parents want her to have
She loves to surf and wants to go to college in town when her parents want her to go to an ivy leg college
She takes a stand to her parents when she goes to a surf com instead of a brunch, and then her father steps out of line and then she leaves her parents house and moves in with her best friend..
But that take a lot of bravery for Grace to do so it's about finding yourself and following your dreams and not what other people want you to do
She loves to surf and wants to go to college in town when her parents want her to go to an ivy leg college
She takes a stand to her parents when she goes to a surf com instead of a brunch, and then her father steps out of line and then she leaves her parents house and moves in with her best friend..
But that take a lot of bravery for Grace to do so it's about finding yourself and following your dreams and not what other people want you to do
May 5, 2019
One thing I didn’t realise before starting this book was that the chapters would alternate points of view between the two main characters (Grace and Ford) and personally this is not something I like very much (but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be as the chapters aren’t that long).
It was an ok book (possibly more serious then people were led to believe) I don’t regret reading it but I probably won’t be re-reading it.
It was an ok book (possibly more serious then people were led to believe) I don’t regret reading it but I probably won’t be re-reading it.
July 2, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It was a light read that started slow but then became emotionally deep. Also hearing about her surfing adventures added light and passion to the story. A great one for teens
August 20, 2021
Action packed!
June 11, 2015
Grace Parker lives a pretty sheltered life despite the fact the fact that she is going to be a senior in high school. Thanks to her overprotective parents, she doesn't do much other than study, surf, and hangout with her best friend, Ford. Her parents want her to be valedictorian and attend an Ivy League school; however, Grace has different plans. She wants to go to UCSD and join the surf team. This tremendously clashes with her parents expectations as they think surfing is pretty much a waste of time. Secretly, Grace enters a surf competition and she knows the scout for UCSD will be there. She is going to spend most of her summer training for this big moment. Thankfully, her best friend, Ford, will help her prepare, but things start to get sticky when Ford realizes he has feelings for her. Plus, her parents have different plans for her this summer. Readers will question whether Grace will stand up for what she wants or become a pawn in her parents' chess game. Riptide by Lindsey Scheibe is much more than a light beach read about surfing. It deals with some serious issues as the idea of following your dreams at all costs.
Grace is the type of character that I love rooting for. She plays by the rules, she's smart, tries to please her parents, and loves to surf. Ford has a major crush on her and she has feelings for him too, but she feels like she can't cross the line into romantic territory with him. What if it doesn't work out? Will she lose her best friend? Plus, Ford's internship is with Grace's domineering dad and he specifically asks Ford to look out for Grace....meaning keep all boys away from her since he doesn't want her to be distracted from her studies. If Ford doesn't do what Grace's dad asks of him, it could impact his internship as well as his future. So, needless to say, becoming more than friends isn't quite as simple as it initially appears in Riptide.
Grace's parents are horrible. Seriously. I would get anxious when Grace's dad would enter the storyline. He was THAT horrible. He is a major control freak from everything down to her chores, what she wears, where she goes, who she hangs out with and how she acts. Their relationship was so messed up and Scheibe definitely did a good job portraying this as I was feeling anxiety and stress right there along with Grace. I never knew what was going to upset her dad and make him act violently in Riptide. Her mom could have been a friend to Grace, but instead she nitpicked her every outfit, was brainwashed by her husband, and seemed to always be putting Grace down. I felt bad that Grace had no one to confide in other than Ford. I really wanted her to have a female BFF, but that wasn't happening. Obviously, Grace's home life is a disaster and surfing is one way she escapes.
One thing that I loved about Riptide was the surfing aspect. I have never read a book that deals with surfing and it was fun to be lost in Grace's world of bonfires, San Diego beaches, ocean spray and hot surfer guys. I could tell that Scheibe is someone who has surfed before because everything down to the description of the killer waves and the surfer lingo was spot on.
I did have a few issues with Riptide. The story is told from both Grace and Ford's point of view by alternating each chapter. Sometimes Ford's voice was a little too similar to Grace's and I wish that it had just been from Grace's perspective. I wanted more of a romance or tension between Grace and Ford, but that really didn't happen. It was definitely a very, very slow burn, but most of the time, Grace and Ford acted immaturely.
Although Lindsey Scheibe's debut didn't "wow" me, I think it would make for a fun beach read, but be forewarned that this story deals with domestic violence and isn't all just sunny days and tan lines. So, if you are looking for a beach read that has a serious edge to it, check out Riptide this summer.
Grace is the type of character that I love rooting for. She plays by the rules, she's smart, tries to please her parents, and loves to surf. Ford has a major crush on her and she has feelings for him too, but she feels like she can't cross the line into romantic territory with him. What if it doesn't work out? Will she lose her best friend? Plus, Ford's internship is with Grace's domineering dad and he specifically asks Ford to look out for Grace....meaning keep all boys away from her since he doesn't want her to be distracted from her studies. If Ford doesn't do what Grace's dad asks of him, it could impact his internship as well as his future. So, needless to say, becoming more than friends isn't quite as simple as it initially appears in Riptide.
Grace's parents are horrible. Seriously. I would get anxious when Grace's dad would enter the storyline. He was THAT horrible. He is a major control freak from everything down to her chores, what she wears, where she goes, who she hangs out with and how she acts. Their relationship was so messed up and Scheibe definitely did a good job portraying this as I was feeling anxiety and stress right there along with Grace. I never knew what was going to upset her dad and make him act violently in Riptide. Her mom could have been a friend to Grace, but instead she nitpicked her every outfit, was brainwashed by her husband, and seemed to always be putting Grace down. I felt bad that Grace had no one to confide in other than Ford. I really wanted her to have a female BFF, but that wasn't happening. Obviously, Grace's home life is a disaster and surfing is one way she escapes.
One thing that I loved about Riptide was the surfing aspect. I have never read a book that deals with surfing and it was fun to be lost in Grace's world of bonfires, San Diego beaches, ocean spray and hot surfer guys. I could tell that Scheibe is someone who has surfed before because everything down to the description of the killer waves and the surfer lingo was spot on.
I did have a few issues with Riptide. The story is told from both Grace and Ford's point of view by alternating each chapter. Sometimes Ford's voice was a little too similar to Grace's and I wish that it had just been from Grace's perspective. I wanted more of a romance or tension between Grace and Ford, but that really didn't happen. It was definitely a very, very slow burn, but most of the time, Grace and Ford acted immaturely.
Although Lindsey Scheibe's debut didn't "wow" me, I think it would make for a fun beach read, but be forewarned that this story deals with domestic violence and isn't all just sunny days and tan lines. So, if you are looking for a beach read that has a serious edge to it, check out Riptide this summer.
November 13, 2014
[Originally posted on the blog]
There are so many reasons why Riptide could have been a book I fell head over heels in love with. It's about a girl who surfs, and surfing has always been a sport that fascinates me. The girl appears to be experiencing the problems of a typical teen - dealing with her parents, chasing her dreams, falling in love. While Riptide's story includes all of these things, the execution simply fell flat for me and I finished feeling slightly disappointed in what I'd just read.
What I Liked
Surfing was a big part of the novel. Like I already mentioned, I love surfing (even though I think I'm too much of a chicken to try it myself). The way that the sport is woven into the novel as part of Grace's life is really well-done, and it's so clear that Grace is dedicated to the sport that she loves. The best parts for me, however, were the descriptions of what it was like for Grace when she was surfing; it made me feel like I was right on the board along with her.
Grace's determination to follow her dreams was admirable. There's a lot of opposition in Grace's life when it comes to her dreams of surfing, particularly from her parents. I really admire the fact that she persisted in doing what she wanted to do, what she knew she loved, in spite of everything.At the start, she was pretty hesitant to disobey them, but that just held her back. It was nice to see her finally fighting for what she wanted, instead of going along with what they wanted from her.
Ford (and his parents). Ford's story is actually told in bits and pieces here and there, since the POV shifts from Grace to him for some chapters. He was really intriguing, especially with his interest in immigration law and helping people he knew. I would have loved to read more about this particular part of the story. (Also, his parents are included because they are basically warm and wonderful, especially his mother.)
What I Didn't Like
There are so many different things going on all at once. There's Grace's quest to enter and place in the surf competition. There's the matter of Grace's issues with her father. Grace's issues with her mother. Ford's dealing with something in his past that haunts him. Ford's internship at the firm where Grace's father works. Ford and Grace's friendship-more than friends dance. Other romantic interests. I mean, if these things had been properly woven together, I feel like I might have enjoyed the story more. But I felt like it was pretty scattered and all over the place, especially since a lot of them were either too easily concluded or never concluded at all.
The multiple point-of-views didn't work. While I enjoyed reading from Ford's perspective, I wish it had been fleshed out more. There definitely wasn't an equal balance to the book, as it was primarily about Grace. Ford's parts ended up being very sporadic and jarring and just out of place to me.
Grace has the worst parents. I absolutely hated Grace's parents. Sure, they had little moments where I started to soften towards them, but in the end, they were simply horrible people. Her father's behavior was just nuts, but it was her mother who I hated even more as the book ended.
The romance. You know, to me, if they'd just both been honest with each other from the start, they could have avoided all the potholes in their budding relationship. I suppose that was going to add another dimension to Grace's situation, but it seriously backfired for this reader.
I really wanted to like Riptide more than I did, but it inevitably was a book that disappointed me. I couldn't connect with the characters to the level where I truly cared about what became of them. The story had too many plot threads, and the execution just didn't work when it came to weaving them together. While it had a lot of potential, Riptide was essentially a novel that I was disappointed in.
There are so many reasons why Riptide could have been a book I fell head over heels in love with. It's about a girl who surfs, and surfing has always been a sport that fascinates me. The girl appears to be experiencing the problems of a typical teen - dealing with her parents, chasing her dreams, falling in love. While Riptide's story includes all of these things, the execution simply fell flat for me and I finished feeling slightly disappointed in what I'd just read.
What I Liked
Surfing was a big part of the novel. Like I already mentioned, I love surfing (even though I think I'm too much of a chicken to try it myself). The way that the sport is woven into the novel as part of Grace's life is really well-done, and it's so clear that Grace is dedicated to the sport that she loves. The best parts for me, however, were the descriptions of what it was like for Grace when she was surfing; it made me feel like I was right on the board along with her.
Grace's determination to follow her dreams was admirable. There's a lot of opposition in Grace's life when it comes to her dreams of surfing, particularly from her parents. I really admire the fact that she persisted in doing what she wanted to do, what she knew she loved, in spite of everything.At the start, she was pretty hesitant to disobey them, but that just held her back. It was nice to see her finally fighting for what she wanted, instead of going along with what they wanted from her.
Ford (and his parents). Ford's story is actually told in bits and pieces here and there, since the POV shifts from Grace to him for some chapters. He was really intriguing, especially with his interest in immigration law and helping people he knew. I would have loved to read more about this particular part of the story. (Also, his parents are included because they are basically warm and wonderful, especially his mother.)
What I Didn't Like
There are so many different things going on all at once. There's Grace's quest to enter and place in the surf competition. There's the matter of Grace's issues with her father. Grace's issues with her mother. Ford's dealing with something in his past that haunts him. Ford's internship at the firm where Grace's father works. Ford and Grace's friendship-more than friends dance. Other romantic interests. I mean, if these things had been properly woven together, I feel like I might have enjoyed the story more. But I felt like it was pretty scattered and all over the place, especially since a lot of them were either too easily concluded or never concluded at all.
The multiple point-of-views didn't work. While I enjoyed reading from Ford's perspective, I wish it had been fleshed out more. There definitely wasn't an equal balance to the book, as it was primarily about Grace. Ford's parts ended up being very sporadic and jarring and just out of place to me.
Grace has the worst parents. I absolutely hated Grace's parents. Sure, they had little moments where I started to soften towards them, but in the end, they were simply horrible people. Her father's behavior was just nuts, but it was her mother who I hated even more as the book ended.
The romance. You know, to me, if they'd just both been honest with each other from the start, they could have avoided all the potholes in their budding relationship. I suppose that was going to add another dimension to Grace's situation, but it seriously backfired for this reader.
I really wanted to like Riptide more than I did, but it inevitably was a book that disappointed me. I couldn't connect with the characters to the level where I truly cared about what became of them. The story had too many plot threads, and the execution just didn't work when it came to weaving them together. While it had a lot of potential, Riptide was essentially a novel that I was disappointed in.
June 10, 2013
My Review
Favorite Quote(s):
“The ability to stand up for one’s self is just as important as the ability to stand up for others.”
“'The only person who can make the decision to help you is you. And the only place to put your trust is God.’”
Favorite Character: Mama Watson. She’s Ford mother, and she was just such a wise person throughout the novel. Although I don’t really talk about her in the rest of this review, she was very inspiring with her words of wisdom over the course of the novel.
First Line:
“I stretch out my legs, enjoying the hot sand against my calves.”
My Musings: For Grace Parker, surfing is life. All she wants is to get a surfing scholarship to UC San Diego; too bad that’s not what her parent want. They want her to be a good little minion and go off to an Ivy League school. But Grace Parker has got drive, and when her best friend Ford signs her up for a surfing competition, she knows that she’s got to kick butt—one of the judges is UCSD’s surfing coach.
I really liked this book. I think what I liked best about it was its local color. I really liked the way that the character talked, with all of their surfer slang and such. It was really fun trying to figure out what the heck they were talking about sometimes. It really gave the characters a sense of uniqueness. That, paired with Ford’s Hispanic roots shining through, I felt as if the characters were honest to God people who existed out there somewhere. They all seemed so real.
Grace was a girl that I could personally relate to. She had so much pressure on her to be perfect—perfect grades, perfect clothes, perfect schools to apply to. Grace was a very intelligent girl, and she also had a drive to reach the goals that she set for herself—not the ones that her parents set for her. Her determination was something that I was constantly admiring throughout the novel. Although she could come off as mean sometimes, it was completely justified, in my opinion, due to her family life. I couldn’t imagine having to go through what she did at home and still have that much of a backbone. She was truly a great protagonist.
Ford, well, Ford had to grow on me. I have no idea what it was, but I just couldn’t warm up to him at first. But eventually, I did. And I’m glad that I did. He was a hilarious character. He had a great family, and he really cared about Grace. Although at times I was screaming at the book for him to stop being such an idiot, I loved him none the less, and I’m glad that he finally manned up enough to get the girl.
This novel deals with a touchy subject. Domestic abuse. Not necessarily physical, but also the mental kind. That gave the novel a reality to exist in, and it came with a heavy dose of feels over the
course of the novel. However, things ended as they should have, and I admire the characters for getting through it.
I really enjoyed the surfing aspect of this novel. I haven’t ever read a novel centered on surfing. It was cool to see the sport and learn about it. I went from knowing absolutely nothing about surfing to knowing close to nothing about it. But it was fun nonetheless, and it was a great physical metaphor to Grace’s life.
The only thing that I did not enjoy about this novel was the alternating points of view. At first, I was very confused, because I was not expecting it, and there was not heading or anything that said that the point of view had changed. Dual POV in some cases is totally cool, but for others, it just takes away from the story. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the truth. Regardless, it was a good novel, and I would recommend it as a great summer read, if you don’t mind the heaviness of bad parents and such. Riptide was a moderately fun summer novel full of chasing your dreams, falling in love, and dealing with high expectations.
Favorite Quote(s):
“The ability to stand up for one’s self is just as important as the ability to stand up for others.”
“'The only person who can make the decision to help you is you. And the only place to put your trust is God.’”
Favorite Character: Mama Watson. She’s Ford mother, and she was just such a wise person throughout the novel. Although I don’t really talk about her in the rest of this review, she was very inspiring with her words of wisdom over the course of the novel.
First Line:
“I stretch out my legs, enjoying the hot sand against my calves.”
My Musings: For Grace Parker, surfing is life. All she wants is to get a surfing scholarship to UC San Diego; too bad that’s not what her parent want. They want her to be a good little minion and go off to an Ivy League school. But Grace Parker has got drive, and when her best friend Ford signs her up for a surfing competition, she knows that she’s got to kick butt—one of the judges is UCSD’s surfing coach.
I really liked this book. I think what I liked best about it was its local color. I really liked the way that the character talked, with all of their surfer slang and such. It was really fun trying to figure out what the heck they were talking about sometimes. It really gave the characters a sense of uniqueness. That, paired with Ford’s Hispanic roots shining through, I felt as if the characters were honest to God people who existed out there somewhere. They all seemed so real.
Grace was a girl that I could personally relate to. She had so much pressure on her to be perfect—perfect grades, perfect clothes, perfect schools to apply to. Grace was a very intelligent girl, and she also had a drive to reach the goals that she set for herself—not the ones that her parents set for her. Her determination was something that I was constantly admiring throughout the novel. Although she could come off as mean sometimes, it was completely justified, in my opinion, due to her family life. I couldn’t imagine having to go through what she did at home and still have that much of a backbone. She was truly a great protagonist.
Ford, well, Ford had to grow on me. I have no idea what it was, but I just couldn’t warm up to him at first. But eventually, I did. And I’m glad that I did. He was a hilarious character. He had a great family, and he really cared about Grace. Although at times I was screaming at the book for him to stop being such an idiot, I loved him none the less, and I’m glad that he finally manned up enough to get the girl.
This novel deals with a touchy subject. Domestic abuse. Not necessarily physical, but also the mental kind. That gave the novel a reality to exist in, and it came with a heavy dose of feels over the
course of the novel. However, things ended as they should have, and I admire the characters for getting through it.
I really enjoyed the surfing aspect of this novel. I haven’t ever read a novel centered on surfing. It was cool to see the sport and learn about it. I went from knowing absolutely nothing about surfing to knowing close to nothing about it. But it was fun nonetheless, and it was a great physical metaphor to Grace’s life.
The only thing that I did not enjoy about this novel was the alternating points of view. At first, I was very confused, because I was not expecting it, and there was not heading or anything that said that the point of view had changed. Dual POV in some cases is totally cool, but for others, it just takes away from the story. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the truth. Regardless, it was a good novel, and I would recommend it as a great summer read, if you don’t mind the heaviness of bad parents and such. Riptide was a moderately fun summer novel full of chasing your dreams, falling in love, and dealing with high expectations.
Shelved as 'unfinished'
September 18, 2015I’m disappointed this book didn’t turn out well.
I came wanting a fun summer book with drama and boys. I wanted a slightly fluffy and slightly angsty contemporary. I wanted a book that wouldn’t necessarily suck me in too deep, because school and life, ok. I didn’t get that.
Within the first few pages there were so many bad things. Instead of not sucking me in, it was actively pushing me out. The beginning of the book sets the stage for how the writer tells stories, and it wasn’t good. There was so, so much telling, rather than showing. And it wasn’t good telling either. Like it says she’s trying not to check out Ford. Which is even more stupid when you think about how the synopsis says he had a crush on her that she “can’t reciprocate.” But on page 2, it says she can’t help but crush on him. Then don’t say that on that back. Say she wishes she didn’t reciprocate or she is too busy or can’t afford to, not allowed to. Anything else that doesn’t seem like a blatant lie. And then there is the idiocy with her boobs jiggling when she’s putting on her wetsuit and him looking away. (#stopsexualizingboobs2k15). Don’t even get me started on how she talks about other girls, my god. She says she wishes she was friends with these other surfer girls but her mom says girls aren’t to be trusted and Grace thinks she’s too quiet and they wouldn’t like that. What is that bullshit?? Oh my god. Those are terrible reasons for not hanging out with them. There are so many other ways to explain it. Or at least don’t be so blunt. And her mom shouldn’t say things like that. I’m guessing it comes up later???? But I can’t go on to find out and I don’t care.
Most of what I found off putting were little comments like that. they didn't add anything, if anything they took away from it. They were character commentary and was unnecessary and took me out of the story. The dialogue didn’t make up for anything. It’s reads like people trying to sound like surfers. It sounds phony. It’s trying too hard. I’ve read other surfer books that transport me out on the water with them. This is so far from that.
In the first 6 pages I thought it sounded like a man trying to write a teenage girl. Which is a really broad generalization, but it’s why I don’t always trust books written by guys that are in a female pov. There are some things they don’t get. (not that some authors can’t write it well. But in my experience it usually ends up sounding something like this, which I don’t like). Either that or this female author just doesn’t sound like she likes girls very much.
And if she’s thinking of going to get a scholarship and compete and it’s her first barrel. Idk. That seemed a bit…I feel like she should have been trying tricks and shit for a while if she wants to be on that level. Not that I really know what a barrel is or how hard it is. But her saying it was her first kind of threw me off. Like she was scared and hesitating, then maybe she isn’t ready to be at that level.
The start of the second chapter surprised me. Turns out it’s a duel pov book so we get to see from Ford (who wants to be a lawyer??? Again, weird). The only way it shows that it’s a different pov is now there is a definition of a word instead of a quote. And his voice isn’t any better than Grace’s.
14 pages and I just can’t. Honestly if I were at home instead of at school (where I requested this book and got it shipped from another library, which took about a week) I would have quiet sooner. I really wanted to try to finish this, but I can’t. This is why I stressed so much about what book to order off of interlibrary loan. Because I didn’t want this to happen. How hard is it to find a good simple book?
There were literally no good moments in those pages. bad dialogue, bad writing, bad characterization. seriously this much bad stuff from 14 pages.
I came wanting a fun summer book with drama and boys. I wanted a slightly fluffy and slightly angsty contemporary. I wanted a book that wouldn’t necessarily suck me in too deep, because school and life, ok. I didn’t get that.
Within the first few pages there were so many bad things. Instead of not sucking me in, it was actively pushing me out. The beginning of the book sets the stage for how the writer tells stories, and it wasn’t good. There was so, so much telling, rather than showing. And it wasn’t good telling either. Like it says she’s trying not to check out Ford. Which is even more stupid when you think about how the synopsis says he had a crush on her that she “can’t reciprocate.” But on page 2, it says she can’t help but crush on him. Then don’t say that on that back. Say she wishes she didn’t reciprocate or she is too busy or can’t afford to, not allowed to. Anything else that doesn’t seem like a blatant lie. And then there is the idiocy with her boobs jiggling when she’s putting on her wetsuit and him looking away. (#stopsexualizingboobs2k15). Don’t even get me started on how she talks about other girls, my god. She says she wishes she was friends with these other surfer girls but her mom says girls aren’t to be trusted and Grace thinks she’s too quiet and they wouldn’t like that. What is that bullshit?? Oh my god. Those are terrible reasons for not hanging out with them. There are so many other ways to explain it. Or at least don’t be so blunt. And her mom shouldn’t say things like that. I’m guessing it comes up later???? But I can’t go on to find out and I don’t care.
Most of what I found off putting were little comments like that. they didn't add anything, if anything they took away from it. They were character commentary and was unnecessary and took me out of the story. The dialogue didn’t make up for anything. It’s reads like people trying to sound like surfers. It sounds phony. It’s trying too hard. I’ve read other surfer books that transport me out on the water with them. This is so far from that.
In the first 6 pages I thought it sounded like a man trying to write a teenage girl. Which is a really broad generalization, but it’s why I don’t always trust books written by guys that are in a female pov. There are some things they don’t get. (not that some authors can’t write it well. But in my experience it usually ends up sounding something like this, which I don’t like). Either that or this female author just doesn’t sound like she likes girls very much.
And if she’s thinking of going to get a scholarship and compete and it’s her first barrel. Idk. That seemed a bit…I feel like she should have been trying tricks and shit for a while if she wants to be on that level. Not that I really know what a barrel is or how hard it is. But her saying it was her first kind of threw me off. Like she was scared and hesitating, then maybe she isn’t ready to be at that level.
The start of the second chapter surprised me. Turns out it’s a duel pov book so we get to see from Ford (who wants to be a lawyer??? Again, weird). The only way it shows that it’s a different pov is now there is a definition of a word instead of a quote. And his voice isn’t any better than Grace’s.
14 pages and I just can’t. Honestly if I were at home instead of at school (where I requested this book and got it shipped from another library, which took about a week) I would have quiet sooner. I really wanted to try to finish this, but I can’t. This is why I stressed so much about what book to order off of interlibrary loan. Because I didn’t want this to happen. How hard is it to find a good simple book?
There were literally no good moments in those pages. bad dialogue, bad writing, bad characterization. seriously this much bad stuff from 14 pages.
May 19, 2013
More reviews on Maji Bookshelf
Riptide's synopsis doesn't promise that it will be a light read, so I don't understand why readers are complaining on how misleading the book was. Just because the book is set in the summer, and the beach, doesn't mean it will be light. I loved every single page of Riptide. It is told from alternating POVs, Grace, our main protagonist, and Ford, her best friend. Both Grace and Ford are surfers however that is when their similarities end. While Ford's family consists of a loving and supporting father and mother, Grace's family is the opposite. Her mom is always looking disapprovingly at Grace, whether it be her worn in jeans or flared shorts or her spending her summer at the beach surfing. However Grace's mother's way of showing her disapproval is through looks or a lecture, which is the opposite of Grace's dad, who tends to take matters into his own hand, literally. Grace has been the recipient of many slaps, and the host of many bruises by her loving father. He is a top notch lawyer but anything and everything sets him off, usually when Grace is present.
I hated Grace's dad, Mr.Parker, with all my heart. Hated how he would hit her one day, then take her shopping the next day and expect her to forget everything that happened the day before. I hated his expectation of Grace going to an Ivy League school and not even asking her what she wants. I hate how he tries to find anything to ram at Grace, whether her not doing her chores when it is only 7 in the morning, or her showing any signs of disagreement. He turned Grace's life into a nightmare. Of course I can't forget the mom, who just stands idly, with her eyes and ears closed to anything that happens in her house. I honestly can't imagine what Grace went through, and how she kept everything to herself, not even confiding in Ford.
Speaking of Ford, I loved him so much. He was so supportive, so ambitious, and the bestest friend. Of course he would rather be more than that with Grace. He lands an internship at Mr.Parker's law firm. You see the charmer that is Mr.Parker at his job and I seriously resented him. However Ford's POV mostly centers around his dream of becoming an immigrant lawyer as well as his feelings towards Grace and her hot/cold acts towards him. I loved Ford sticking around her even though she was stringing him along. I couldn't blame him since he didn't know what was going on with Grace, even when he tried to find out. He also helps Grace practice for an upcoming competition that might attract the scouts at the university she wants to attend. Of course this is all the opposite of what her parents want so you can imagine how everything went down. Scheibe was able to draw out so many emotions from me. There are many Grace's in this world, many without a supporting friend and a place to welcome them if they ever decide that enough is enough. I just felt helpless and I teared up on many occasions. I loved all the surfer lingo in the book and how Scheibe didn't lose sight of all three major plot lines, the sport itself, the romance, and the main issue. So much happens in the 288 pages of this book, I wished the book was even longer. Ford and Grace had such amazing voices. I loved both of their POVs.
Fans of realistic fiction will definitely love this book, but I would still recommend it to contemporary readers. This book is not your typical beach contemporary, it has depth and by the end of the book you just don't want to let these characters go. I will definitely keep an eye out for Lindsey Scheibe and any upcoming books by her.
Riptide's synopsis doesn't promise that it will be a light read, so I don't understand why readers are complaining on how misleading the book was. Just because the book is set in the summer, and the beach, doesn't mean it will be light. I loved every single page of Riptide. It is told from alternating POVs, Grace, our main protagonist, and Ford, her best friend. Both Grace and Ford are surfers however that is when their similarities end. While Ford's family consists of a loving and supporting father and mother, Grace's family is the opposite. Her mom is always looking disapprovingly at Grace, whether it be her worn in jeans or flared shorts or her spending her summer at the beach surfing. However Grace's mother's way of showing her disapproval is through looks or a lecture, which is the opposite of Grace's dad, who tends to take matters into his own hand, literally. Grace has been the recipient of many slaps, and the host of many bruises by her loving father. He is a top notch lawyer but anything and everything sets him off, usually when Grace is present.
I hated Grace's dad, Mr.Parker, with all my heart. Hated how he would hit her one day, then take her shopping the next day and expect her to forget everything that happened the day before. I hated his expectation of Grace going to an Ivy League school and not even asking her what she wants. I hate how he tries to find anything to ram at Grace, whether her not doing her chores when it is only 7 in the morning, or her showing any signs of disagreement. He turned Grace's life into a nightmare. Of course I can't forget the mom, who just stands idly, with her eyes and ears closed to anything that happens in her house. I honestly can't imagine what Grace went through, and how she kept everything to herself, not even confiding in Ford.
Speaking of Ford, I loved him so much. He was so supportive, so ambitious, and the bestest friend. Of course he would rather be more than that with Grace. He lands an internship at Mr.Parker's law firm. You see the charmer that is Mr.Parker at his job and I seriously resented him. However Ford's POV mostly centers around his dream of becoming an immigrant lawyer as well as his feelings towards Grace and her hot/cold acts towards him. I loved Ford sticking around her even though she was stringing him along. I couldn't blame him since he didn't know what was going on with Grace, even when he tried to find out. He also helps Grace practice for an upcoming competition that might attract the scouts at the university she wants to attend. Of course this is all the opposite of what her parents want so you can imagine how everything went down. Scheibe was able to draw out so many emotions from me. There are many Grace's in this world, many without a supporting friend and a place to welcome them if they ever decide that enough is enough. I just felt helpless and I teared up on many occasions. I loved all the surfer lingo in the book and how Scheibe didn't lose sight of all three major plot lines, the sport itself, the romance, and the main issue. So much happens in the 288 pages of this book, I wished the book was even longer. Ford and Grace had such amazing voices. I loved both of their POVs.
Fans of realistic fiction will definitely love this book, but I would still recommend it to contemporary readers. This book is not your typical beach contemporary, it has depth and by the end of the book you just don't want to let these characters go. I will definitely keep an eye out for Lindsey Scheibe and any upcoming books by her.
December 13, 2013
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading Blog
This is the second time in a row that a vibrant book cover oozing with the feel of summer ended up taking on a much more serious tone than I imagined.
Riptide is told from the alternating perspectives of Ford and Grace, two best friends/surfing buddies, who are so in love with each other but for various reasons cannot get it together. Ford is all for being upfront with his feelings, but Grace’s avoidance makes him question if she likes him like that at all. Of course, we know that she does and the foundation for some mega-tension between the two is set.
But this is more than a romance. Grace has many secrets at home, and her trust for people is pretty non-existant. Her parents pile on the pressure for her to go to an Ivy League school and her mom is constantly worried about appearances. (There’s a certain irony in that detail.) Since forever, Grace’s main escape and passion has been hitting the waves. She’s pretty damn good at it too, and would rather pass up her Ivy League chances to stay close by and be part of an awesome college surf team.
When Ford signs her up for a big-time competition, Grace hones in all her energy (or as much as she can) into succeeding and hopefully finding the courage to stand up to her parents about what she really wants. In the meantime, Ford is embracing his own future by interning at Grace’s dad’s law firm and hoping to learn more about immigration return, after an unfortunate incident that hit close to home.
Scheibe does a great job of injecting diversity into this cast of characters from Ford’s new friends at work to the Spanish frequently spoken at his home. I never see this enough in the young adult genre, and it’s always refreshing when it pops up in my reading.
Unfortunately, at some point, Riptide becomes more of Grace’s story (for good reason) and we lose a lot of Ford’s perspective, weakening the second half of the book considerably. His story was worth fleshing out too, and I wish more balance had been achieved. His friends were intriguing and so were his ambitions. As the book went on, I continued to question whether the book as a whole would have been stronger if Grace had been the only voice we had been introduced to.
Even as the book winds down, despite real change coming to all the characters, everything was sewn up a bit too perfectly for me. Too much emphasis was placed on how surfing related to real life, and, while yeah, that makes a ton of sense… I don’t think the reader needed it spelled out quite the way that it was.
While Scheibe did bring a rare family dynamic to the forefront and forced Grace to make necessary but tough choices, a fair amount of tweaking would have made Riptide a more impactful, well-rounded story.
This is the second time in a row that a vibrant book cover oozing with the feel of summer ended up taking on a much more serious tone than I imagined.
Riptide is told from the alternating perspectives of Ford and Grace, two best friends/surfing buddies, who are so in love with each other but for various reasons cannot get it together. Ford is all for being upfront with his feelings, but Grace’s avoidance makes him question if she likes him like that at all. Of course, we know that she does and the foundation for some mega-tension between the two is set.
But this is more than a romance. Grace has many secrets at home, and her trust for people is pretty non-existant. Her parents pile on the pressure for her to go to an Ivy League school and her mom is constantly worried about appearances. (There’s a certain irony in that detail.) Since forever, Grace’s main escape and passion has been hitting the waves. She’s pretty damn good at it too, and would rather pass up her Ivy League chances to stay close by and be part of an awesome college surf team.
When Ford signs her up for a big-time competition, Grace hones in all her energy (or as much as she can) into succeeding and hopefully finding the courage to stand up to her parents about what she really wants. In the meantime, Ford is embracing his own future by interning at Grace’s dad’s law firm and hoping to learn more about immigration return, after an unfortunate incident that hit close to home.
Scheibe does a great job of injecting diversity into this cast of characters from Ford’s new friends at work to the Spanish frequently spoken at his home. I never see this enough in the young adult genre, and it’s always refreshing when it pops up in my reading.
Unfortunately, at some point, Riptide becomes more of Grace’s story (for good reason) and we lose a lot of Ford’s perspective, weakening the second half of the book considerably. His story was worth fleshing out too, and I wish more balance had been achieved. His friends were intriguing and so were his ambitions. As the book went on, I continued to question whether the book as a whole would have been stronger if Grace had been the only voice we had been introduced to.
Even as the book winds down, despite real change coming to all the characters, everything was sewn up a bit too perfectly for me. Too much emphasis was placed on how surfing related to real life, and, while yeah, that makes a ton of sense… I don’t think the reader needed it spelled out quite the way that it was.
While Scheibe did bring a rare family dynamic to the forefront and forced Grace to make necessary but tough choices, a fair amount of tweaking would have made Riptide a more impactful, well-rounded story.
May 6, 2013
When I saw Riptide on netgalley it sounded interesting, and while I had not previously read a surfing book I wanted to read this one. Grace Parker is a surfer, and along with her friend Ford, they surf every day. When a competition comes up Grace jumps at the chance to enter it, hoping to get noticed and get a scholarship to UCSD,and with the help of Ford begins training for this event. But unknown to Ford, Grace is hiding a big secret.
While Riptide starts out nice and relaxed, its not long before we find out what Grace's secret it, and when I found out what it was I felt so sad for Grace. She is basically living two lives, keeping her family life separate from the rest of her life, not even Ford knows what her secret is.
Riptide was not what I expected but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the surfing, even though I did not understand every move they made, I enjoyed the will-they-wont-they get together between Ford and Grace. I did not expect to feel what I did for grace, there are a few characters that are brave for being heroic, but Grace is brave (and stupid) for dealing with what she has to deal with and putting on a brave face for others.
Ford was the perfect friend for Grace, although the pair of them are totally blind to what the other person feels and this caused some tense moments and a lot of jealousy from both of them towards the other, however they do have their disagreements and silly moments where they don't talk. I admire him for still going to see Grace at her competition, and for also being there for her when she finally reveals the truth, he literally stops at nothing to get to her.
I love his family, how welcoming and friendly they are, and also how well they work as a family unit. They treat Grace as one of them and also drop everything to help her in her time of need.
The secondary characters brought into the story were just as rememberable, Brianna for turning out to be not what I expected, Damien for showing a more caring side to the front he puts up when surfing, Hop for trying to do what is best for others. Each character just adds to the story and makes it that much more enjoyable.
Riptide was a great read from start to finish, and while I can't relate to Grace in what she is going through, Lindsey Scheibe has managed to make me feel a wealth of emotions, sadness, helplessness, nervous, worry, happiness and excitement and I would not hesitate to pick up more of her work in the future.
While Riptide starts out nice and relaxed, its not long before we find out what Grace's secret it, and when I found out what it was I felt so sad for Grace. She is basically living two lives, keeping her family life separate from the rest of her life, not even Ford knows what her secret is.
Riptide was not what I expected but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the surfing, even though I did not understand every move they made, I enjoyed the will-they-wont-they get together between Ford and Grace. I did not expect to feel what I did for grace, there are a few characters that are brave for being heroic, but Grace is brave (and stupid) for dealing with what she has to deal with and putting on a brave face for others.
Ford was the perfect friend for Grace, although the pair of them are totally blind to what the other person feels and this caused some tense moments and a lot of jealousy from both of them towards the other, however they do have their disagreements and silly moments where they don't talk. I admire him for still going to see Grace at her competition, and for also being there for her when she finally reveals the truth, he literally stops at nothing to get to her.
I love his family, how welcoming and friendly they are, and also how well they work as a family unit. They treat Grace as one of them and also drop everything to help her in her time of need.
The secondary characters brought into the story were just as rememberable, Brianna for turning out to be not what I expected, Damien for showing a more caring side to the front he puts up when surfing, Hop for trying to do what is best for others. Each character just adds to the story and makes it that much more enjoyable.
Riptide was a great read from start to finish, and while I can't relate to Grace in what she is going through, Lindsey Scheibe has managed to make me feel a wealth of emotions, sadness, helplessness, nervous, worry, happiness and excitement and I would not hesitate to pick up more of her work in the future.
June 4, 2013
Last week, I blogged about the two best YA publishers you've never heard of (Flux and Orca) on the Maine Crime Writer's site. In the course of double-checking information on their home pages, I saw several new titles I wanted to read. Riptide was one.
Grace Parker will seem familiar to a lot of teens. She's studious, athletic and driven, but hiding behind those qualities is a secret about her home life. Her dad, a successful lawyer and the person who taught her to surf and love it, takes out his frustrations on her, sometimes verbally, but unfortunately for Grace, sometimes escalating to physical violence. In addition, both her father and her mother have a mindset that Grace won't mess up her life with boyfriends and WILL attend an Ivy League college.
Grace, on the other hand, is determined to get a surfing scholarship to UCSD and go to school in-state. She's also very much aware of her attraction to her surfing buddy Ford, something that is mutual. When Ford gets a summer internship with the law firm where her dad works, things begin to get complicated. Dad expects Ford to guard-dog Grace, keeping other guys away from her all summer. Given some of the other guy surfers who hit the same beaches, that's a tall order. Ford's own feelings are conflicted not only by Grace's blowing hot and cold, but by the giant carrot her dad dangles in front of him. Ford, you see, wants to become a lawyer so he can atone for something he feels he should have done for a friend who is now dead. He hopes to get his law degree and help illegal immigrants obtain citizenship.
As summer progresses, the job of guarding Grace while helping her sharpen her skills intensifies Ford's own feelings of ambivalence and stress. When Grace is blindsided by a huge conflict the day of her first surfing competition, things are set in motion that will change her life forever.
I liked the story and the main characters a lot. One thing the author did well was show how different Ford and Grace's families are, a fact that's not lost on Grace and helps her make the biggest decision of her life. Her ambivalence and rationalization about what happens at home will resonate with teens in similar situations and the way her mother comes across as being willing to ignore obvious signs of problems at home in order to keep her status quo will make some readers, both teens and parents take a good look in the mirror. A very nice first novel that has a neat mix of romance and tension with a satisfying ending.
Grace Parker will seem familiar to a lot of teens. She's studious, athletic and driven, but hiding behind those qualities is a secret about her home life. Her dad, a successful lawyer and the person who taught her to surf and love it, takes out his frustrations on her, sometimes verbally, but unfortunately for Grace, sometimes escalating to physical violence. In addition, both her father and her mother have a mindset that Grace won't mess up her life with boyfriends and WILL attend an Ivy League college.
Grace, on the other hand, is determined to get a surfing scholarship to UCSD and go to school in-state. She's also very much aware of her attraction to her surfing buddy Ford, something that is mutual. When Ford gets a summer internship with the law firm where her dad works, things begin to get complicated. Dad expects Ford to guard-dog Grace, keeping other guys away from her all summer. Given some of the other guy surfers who hit the same beaches, that's a tall order. Ford's own feelings are conflicted not only by Grace's blowing hot and cold, but by the giant carrot her dad dangles in front of him. Ford, you see, wants to become a lawyer so he can atone for something he feels he should have done for a friend who is now dead. He hopes to get his law degree and help illegal immigrants obtain citizenship.
As summer progresses, the job of guarding Grace while helping her sharpen her skills intensifies Ford's own feelings of ambivalence and stress. When Grace is blindsided by a huge conflict the day of her first surfing competition, things are set in motion that will change her life forever.
I liked the story and the main characters a lot. One thing the author did well was show how different Ford and Grace's families are, a fact that's not lost on Grace and helps her make the biggest decision of her life. Her ambivalence and rationalization about what happens at home will resonate with teens in similar situations and the way her mother comes across as being willing to ignore obvious signs of problems at home in order to keep her status quo will make some readers, both teens and parents take a good look in the mirror. A very nice first novel that has a neat mix of romance and tension with a satisfying ending.
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