What do you think?
Rate this book
Sixteenth Summer #2
Pulled Under
A shy teen befriends an attractive beach town tourist in this refreshing summertime romance, in the tradition of Sixteenth Summer and Seventeenth Summer.In the small town of Pearl Beach, Florida, Izzy Lucas needs only her surfboard and the water to be completely happy. She wants nothing to do with parties, popularity contests, or showing her face around the clichéd touristy hangouts. Izzy’s tight group of coworkers at the local surf shop have tried relentlessly to break shy Izzy out of her (sea)shell. But Izzy isn’t interested…until the day Ben Barker walks into the store. Ben’s from the city. He’s cute, charming, and wants her help adjusting to beach town culture. As the weeks of surfing lessons and pizza shack visits fly by, Izzy and Ben realize their attraction goes beyond mere friendship. But Ben is only in town for three months, and Izzy wonders if this amazing guy is worth stepping out of her comfort zone for what might be the perfect summer romance—or her first heartbreak.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2014
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
December 31, 2014
Pulled Under is the second book I’ve read by author Michelle Dalton and she’s definitely becoming one of my favourite authors for writing the perfect summer read because Pulled Under is the perfect summer read!
Isabel Lucas lives in a small tourist town called Pearl Beach, Florida with her happily married parents, her two best friends whom she shares everything with and works with at the local surf shop but the most important is, that she lives right next to the beach so she can surf any time she wants. It’s during the summer holidays that her friends force her to take a risk and take a chance on the new guy in town, Ben who is spending his summer in Pearl Beach instead of his hometown of Wisconsin. But Ben is only in town for 3 months and can Isabel take the risk of getting close to Ben, knowing full well that by the end of the summer she’ll be alone again.
I absolutely loved Pulled Under. I had planned to read it during the summer but didn’t have chance and even though it’s not summer here now in the UK, it was still a great read – one that could be read at any time of the year and one I’m sure you’d enjoy.
I had a smile on my face pretty during the whole of the story because of how fun it is. Isabel is a great character. She’s down to earth, fun and even though she’s shy, she’s not too shy that makes her not enjoy her life. She opens up and grows throughout the summer and yeah, most of that is down to Ben who opens her up to more experiences, but even without Ben, I felt as though she is still a good character to get to know. And Ben is awesome. Even though he does have a tough time during the story, he’s still lovely to get to know and just a little swoon-worthy.
In all, I’m dying to read more from Michelle Dalton. Fifteenth Summer is high on my wish list while I waited for the next Sixteenth Summer Novel – Swept Away!
Isabel Lucas lives in a small tourist town called Pearl Beach, Florida with her happily married parents, her two best friends whom she shares everything with and works with at the local surf shop but the most important is, that she lives right next to the beach so she can surf any time she wants. It’s during the summer holidays that her friends force her to take a risk and take a chance on the new guy in town, Ben who is spending his summer in Pearl Beach instead of his hometown of Wisconsin. But Ben is only in town for 3 months and can Isabel take the risk of getting close to Ben, knowing full well that by the end of the summer she’ll be alone again.
I absolutely loved Pulled Under. I had planned to read it during the summer but didn’t have chance and even though it’s not summer here now in the UK, it was still a great read – one that could be read at any time of the year and one I’m sure you’d enjoy.
I had a smile on my face pretty during the whole of the story because of how fun it is. Isabel is a great character. She’s down to earth, fun and even though she’s shy, she’s not too shy that makes her not enjoy her life. She opens up and grows throughout the summer and yeah, most of that is down to Ben who opens her up to more experiences, but even without Ben, I felt as though she is still a good character to get to know. And Ben is awesome. Even though he does have a tough time during the story, he’s still lovely to get to know and just a little swoon-worthy.
In all, I’m dying to read more from Michelle Dalton. Fifteenth Summer is high on my wish list while I waited for the next Sixteenth Summer Novel – Swept Away!
Want to read
September 29, 2013
If this is about Will and Anna....
March 20, 2015
Sweet and cute and funny, a perfect summer read.
A while ago I read and loved Sixteenth Summer, a wonderful story about first loves and new beginnings. So when I got the chance to read another book from the same author, with a similar storyline, I didn’t think twice about it, I just dived right into it.
‘Pulled Under’ follows these new characters in the same way as before, though it still feels fresh and enchanting – the couple (because this is a love story after all) meets, they start to like each other, they wonder about each other’s feelings, they get to know better one another, they fall in love, and they deeply fear the end of the summer. It’s all sweet and cute and funny, an absolute perfect summer read.
What I loved the most was how the passion (the love even) for surfing was presented – you could feel it yourself, almost ‘taste’ it even, you could experience Izzy’s love for being there, in the waves, letting them wash away everything else. Also there were some fitting metaphors involving waves and life and.. love actually.
The romance is also cute. You can see that Izzy and Ben like each other right from the beginning and during the summer their feelings grow gradually. I kept giggling, watching them struggle their way into this relationship, it reminded me again of first loves and carefree romances, and being young and enjoying summer and fearing to give one’s heart away.
Another plus is the friendship - they were supportive, they had fun, they fought for the things they believed in, and I envy them a bit for that sort of friendship. Because, sometimes you need someone to tell you that it’s OK to take risks, otherwise you will never push your boundaries and you will never fully grow as a person.
All in one, ‘Pulled Under’ is a great and very cute story; one that can make you sigh happily and dream of endless summer loves. Enjoy it!
Happy midnight reading!
* Read the full review at: ReadingAfterMidnight.com
____________________________________________
Blog (EN) | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin' | Blog (RO)
____________________________________________
A while ago I read and loved Sixteenth Summer, a wonderful story about first loves and new beginnings. So when I got the chance to read another book from the same author, with a similar storyline, I didn’t think twice about it, I just dived right into it.
‘Pulled Under’ follows these new characters in the same way as before, though it still feels fresh and enchanting – the couple (because this is a love story after all) meets, they start to like each other, they wonder about each other’s feelings, they get to know better one another, they fall in love, and they deeply fear the end of the summer. It’s all sweet and cute and funny, an absolute perfect summer read.
What I loved the most was how the passion (the love even) for surfing was presented – you could feel it yourself, almost ‘taste’ it even, you could experience Izzy’s love for being there, in the waves, letting them wash away everything else. Also there were some fitting metaphors involving waves and life and.. love actually.
The romance is also cute. You can see that Izzy and Ben like each other right from the beginning and during the summer their feelings grow gradually. I kept giggling, watching them struggle their way into this relationship, it reminded me again of first loves and carefree romances, and being young and enjoying summer and fearing to give one’s heart away.
Another plus is the friendship - they were supportive, they had fun, they fought for the things they believed in, and I envy them a bit for that sort of friendship. Because, sometimes you need someone to tell you that it’s OK to take risks, otherwise you will never push your boundaries and you will never fully grow as a person.
All in one, ‘Pulled Under’ is a great and very cute story; one that can make you sigh happily and dream of endless summer loves. Enjoy it!
Happy midnight reading!
* Read the full review at: ReadingAfterMidnight.com
____________________________________________
Blog (EN) | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin' | Blog (RO)
____________________________________________
June 11, 2024
i wanted a cheesy beach summer romance & this book did deliver, however, it was a little snooze worthy
September 2, 2021
Cute summer read to keep me entertained during my beach vacation. A little predictable and cheesy, of course, but still beachy and fun.
June 12, 2017
Michelle Dalton has written some sweet, fun, and flirty books that I have enjoyed, but this one was overly cliché and had inconsistencies. I'm left feeling very annoyed and meaningfully sipping on my ice water.
I'm not expecting perfection with these books, I knew what I was getting into, but this really felt like lazy writing. It was a recycled plot line, which is fine if that's the gimmick, but the characters were also recycled, and that's where I draw the line. I've read these characters, not just from other authors, but from Dalton herself. I felt like I had read this exact novel before, but with different names marked in. That's how similar these characters felt.
The reader was told that Izzy was this shy, introverted girl who'd never been kissed, but her decisions did not match with that narrative, that's coming from a true introvert. We were told how awkward she was and how she doesn't tend to talk to new people, but when Ben comes to the Surf shop, he gets pizza at a tourist place so Izzy invites him to pizza at a different place for a date. An introvert doesn't do that a day after meeting someone. It's more of an extrovert thing to do. It just seemed like the author was telling us one thing, but contradicting herself in choices and dialogue from Izzy.
I also found Ben to be underdeveloped. He's cute, he's sweet, but he's also overly perfect. For having his parents go through a divorce, he doesn't really discuss the impact it has on him, and it all just seems like it was thrown in. It was done messily, and didn't affect his character or his personality. He also didn't give much of a backstory or anything that makes him special or interesting. He just seemed like another polished YA love interest, and it frustrated me quite a bit.
The romance was not well done either, and this is coming from a fan of her other books. The romance was very instant. Izzy had a crush on Ben instantly, then fell in love with him fairly quickly without knowing much about him. It wasn't logical, and it wasn't written believably. Falling in love is something that tends to take time, something that allows you to know a person well and love everything about them, the good and the bad. Izzy didn't learn the bad, neither did Ben. It just felt forced to me and unnatural I guess.
Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this book because of the weak characters and romance. It truly pains me to say that because Michelle has written some books I have really loved, however, this wasn't one of them. My advice? Pick up 15th Summer instead.
I'm not expecting perfection with these books, I knew what I was getting into, but this really felt like lazy writing. It was a recycled plot line, which is fine if that's the gimmick, but the characters were also recycled, and that's where I draw the line. I've read these characters, not just from other authors, but from Dalton herself. I felt like I had read this exact novel before, but with different names marked in. That's how similar these characters felt.
The reader was told that Izzy was this shy, introverted girl who'd never been kissed, but her decisions did not match with that narrative, that's coming from a true introvert. We were told how awkward she was and how she doesn't tend to talk to new people, but when Ben comes to the Surf shop, he gets pizza at a tourist place so Izzy invites him to pizza at a different place for a date. An introvert doesn't do that a day after meeting someone. It's more of an extrovert thing to do. It just seemed like the author was telling us one thing, but contradicting herself in choices and dialogue from Izzy.
I also found Ben to be underdeveloped. He's cute, he's sweet, but he's also overly perfect. For having his parents go through a divorce, he doesn't really discuss the impact it has on him, and it all just seems like it was thrown in. It was done messily, and didn't affect his character or his personality. He also didn't give much of a backstory or anything that makes him special or interesting. He just seemed like another polished YA love interest, and it frustrated me quite a bit.
The romance was not well done either, and this is coming from a fan of her other books. The romance was very instant. Izzy had a crush on Ben instantly, then fell in love with him fairly quickly without knowing much about him. It wasn't logical, and it wasn't written believably. Falling in love is something that tends to take time, something that allows you to know a person well and love everything about them, the good and the bad. Izzy didn't learn the bad, neither did Ben. It just felt forced to me and unnatural I guess.
Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this book because of the weak characters and romance. It truly pains me to say that because Michelle has written some books I have really loved, however, this wasn't one of them. My advice? Pick up 15th Summer instead.
May 23, 2017
I was looking forward to this book so much! I read the first book in this series "Sixteenth Summer" three years ago, so this year when I was going through our book fair and I saw that there were two more books I had to buy them! I did not read the synopsis on either book "Pulled Under" or "Swept Away" when I got home I looked them up on Goodreads only to find out they had the same plot. Now it would have been fine if the books and some basic similarities, but almost every aspect of the book was the same in all three! The girl lives in a small town near water. She doesn't have many friends. A boy comes along that she's never seen before and it's attraction at first sight. Will their love last the summer or will their hearts be broken? This might not seem like many similarities, but wait there's more. All the boys parents are divorced!!!!!!!! In every single book!! Who gets away with writing three stories with the exact same plot? Although the plots were the same I have to say that I throughly enjoyed rereading "Sixteenth Summer" and reading "Pulled Under" this year. I haven't finished "Swept Away" yet but so far it's my least favorite.
August 13, 2017
This was soooo cute!!! Read it!!!
Read
January 15, 2019Personal Response: I really enjoyed this book. I have learned that I like the summer fling books that this author writes. The one thing about this book is that it makes me miss summer and sad that it is winter and cold, not summer and warm. I kept on wanting to read this book at all times, it had me hooked from the beginning to end. Overall I thought this book was really good and interesting.
Plot Summary: A Sixteenth Summer- Pulled Under takes place on a small island in Florida called Pearl Beach, it is told from the point of view of a sixteen-year-old girl named Izzy. Izzy really enjoys surfing and work at Surf Sisters with her two best friends Nicole and Sophie. While at work at the beginning of the summer, a boy named Ben visiting for the summer from Wisconsin walks in and Izzy was immediately falling for him. Nicole and Sophie made Izzy talk to him, which ended up being a good thing and led to a great relationship with him. They spent the rest of the summer together, around the end of July Ben had to go back up to Wisconsin for a week to see a judge for his parents' divorce, when he returned there was something off about him and made Izzy sad and everything was getting messed up. They talked it out and fixed everything, and he helped Izzy and the other girls at Surf Sisters win The King of the Beach surfing competition. They spent everyday together after the competition together when they could until Ben had to go home.
Characterization: Izzy at the beginning of the book was very shy and would not talk to anybody she did not know unless she was helping a customer. She for sure would not have competed in a huge surfing contest called The King of the Beach. Ben really helped bring Izzy out of her shell and gain confidence. At the end, she was very confident in her surfing skills and also in herself as a person, which made her open up more.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to high school girls, who like to read romance books. If they did not like romance books than they would get very bored with this book and would not like it at all. Also, I do not think boys would enjoy this book because of all the cheesy romance in it and it is super girly. Lastly, I think this book is not a good fit for middle schoolers because it is a higher reading level so it would be harder for them to understand it.
Plot Summary: A Sixteenth Summer- Pulled Under takes place on a small island in Florida called Pearl Beach, it is told from the point of view of a sixteen-year-old girl named Izzy. Izzy really enjoys surfing and work at Surf Sisters with her two best friends Nicole and Sophie. While at work at the beginning of the summer, a boy named Ben visiting for the summer from Wisconsin walks in and Izzy was immediately falling for him. Nicole and Sophie made Izzy talk to him, which ended up being a good thing and led to a great relationship with him. They spent the rest of the summer together, around the end of July Ben had to go back up to Wisconsin for a week to see a judge for his parents' divorce, when he returned there was something off about him and made Izzy sad and everything was getting messed up. They talked it out and fixed everything, and he helped Izzy and the other girls at Surf Sisters win The King of the Beach surfing competition. They spent everyday together after the competition together when they could until Ben had to go home.
Characterization: Izzy at the beginning of the book was very shy and would not talk to anybody she did not know unless she was helping a customer. She for sure would not have competed in a huge surfing contest called The King of the Beach. Ben really helped bring Izzy out of her shell and gain confidence. At the end, she was very confident in her surfing skills and also in herself as a person, which made her open up more.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to high school girls, who like to read romance books. If they did not like romance books than they would get very bored with this book and would not like it at all. Also, I do not think boys would enjoy this book because of all the cheesy romance in it and it is super girly. Lastly, I think this book is not a good fit for middle schoolers because it is a higher reading level so it would be harder for them to understand it.
Read
March 12, 2018Sixteenth summer “pulled under”
Personal response//
Pulled under was a great book. I really enjoyed it. There were many interesting moments as the book went on.
Summary//
Izzy, a hardworking girl, does not want anything to do with boys or parties. Her daily routine is surfing and working until a boy, Ben, comes into the shop. Izzy has no idea how to be with a guy let alone date one. It all started when Ben came into the shop to hang up a poster. The girls that Izzy works with dare her to talk to him and ask him to get lunch. They met up on her break and after her shifts for the first couple dates. With Izzy always working and Ben always working it was hard for them to meet up, but they made it work. They knew they only had so many days together, but that did not stop them from anything.
For part of Izzy’s job, she has to teach young kids to surf. Ben is from Wisconsin and he has no idea how to surf, so Izzy teaches him as well. It was a long slow process. He tried convincing her to sign up for a huge surfing contest at the end of the summer. With Surf Sisters, the shop, getting closed down she is convinced that she can win the contest but not alone. She asks everyone that works there, even the owners, to enter the contest with her.
With Ben’s parents getting into a divorce and horribly fighting, he does not take it too lightly. In the beginning of August, Ben had to go back up to Wisconsin to decide what parent he wanted to be with. His mom gave birth to him in Pearl Beach, where he is with Izzy. When he came back to Pearl Beach, he told Izzy that he has a choice to move to Pearl Beach or with his dad. Izzy does not want him to move there because of her. She wants him to move there if he feels like its home. After the contest, Ben decides he's moving to Pearl Beach.
Characterization//
Izzy starts out as a shy girl. After a couple dates with Ben, she feels that she can be herself around him. Throughout the book she begins to open up to everything and everyone. She used to be this shy girl that only surfed by herself and worked. Now she's a courageous and outgoing girl.
Recommendations//
I recommend this book to anyone who likes cute, romantic stories. It is very realistic and many girls can relate to any moments in this book. I recommend this book to any high schooler as well because of the language.
Personal response//
Pulled under was a great book. I really enjoyed it. There were many interesting moments as the book went on.
Summary//
Izzy, a hardworking girl, does not want anything to do with boys or parties. Her daily routine is surfing and working until a boy, Ben, comes into the shop. Izzy has no idea how to be with a guy let alone date one. It all started when Ben came into the shop to hang up a poster. The girls that Izzy works with dare her to talk to him and ask him to get lunch. They met up on her break and after her shifts for the first couple dates. With Izzy always working and Ben always working it was hard for them to meet up, but they made it work. They knew they only had so many days together, but that did not stop them from anything.
For part of Izzy’s job, she has to teach young kids to surf. Ben is from Wisconsin and he has no idea how to surf, so Izzy teaches him as well. It was a long slow process. He tried convincing her to sign up for a huge surfing contest at the end of the summer. With Surf Sisters, the shop, getting closed down she is convinced that she can win the contest but not alone. She asks everyone that works there, even the owners, to enter the contest with her.
With Ben’s parents getting into a divorce and horribly fighting, he does not take it too lightly. In the beginning of August, Ben had to go back up to Wisconsin to decide what parent he wanted to be with. His mom gave birth to him in Pearl Beach, where he is with Izzy. When he came back to Pearl Beach, he told Izzy that he has a choice to move to Pearl Beach or with his dad. Izzy does not want him to move there because of her. She wants him to move there if he feels like its home. After the contest, Ben decides he's moving to Pearl Beach.
Characterization//
Izzy starts out as a shy girl. After a couple dates with Ben, she feels that she can be herself around him. Throughout the book she begins to open up to everything and everyone. She used to be this shy girl that only surfed by herself and worked. Now she's a courageous and outgoing girl.
Recommendations//
I recommend this book to anyone who likes cute, romantic stories. It is very realistic and many girls can relate to any moments in this book. I recommend this book to any high schooler as well because of the language.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2018
Personal Response: I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the author did a great job of developing the characters throughout the book. I liked that the author included suspense and created major problems for the characters. I wish there would have been more at the end of the book about whether or not Ben stayed at Pearl Beach. I also liked that the reader was able to feel some of the emotions that the characters were feeling. Unfortunately, I was able to predict one of the major events that happened towards the end of the book. I thought it was cool that Ben was from Wisconsin, and I was able to make some connections to the book because of that.
Plot: This book began with Izzy, the main character, and her two best friends. Sophie and Nicole had been Izzy’s closest friends for as long as she could remember. The girls all worked at Surf Sisters together. Surf Sisters was run by Mickey and Mo, who were the two daughters of the original founder of the shop. They loved their job together, but they also loved surfing together. Izzy was a very good surfer, but never imagined she could be as good as Mickey and Mo were. They had been the only two female competitors in the King of the Beach contest. No matter how great she was, Izzy couldn’t hardly grasp the idea of being as talented as them. When Ben arrived in town, Izzy noticed him right away. Being a local, it was easy for her to spot him out as a tourist. When she finally got a chance to talk to him, she found out that he was staying with his uncle and working at Parks and Recreation for the summer. They began to develop a relationship and they ended up spending a lot of time together. When Ben met Izzy’s parents, they instantly brought him into their family. Her dad really liked Ben because they had a similar love for running. Izzy and Ben encountered a few difficulties throughout their summer together, but ended up solving the majority of them.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to girls ages 13-18. The main character is a girl, so females would be able to relate more to the story.
The book included some romance, which also gears it towards girls. There was some content that the reader would have to be mature enough to handle.
Characterization: At the beginning of the book, Izzy was somewhat shy. She wasn’t great with guys,so she just stuck with her two best friends. As the book progressed, she began to come out of her shell. Meeting Ben was a big part of her development as a character. She became more outgoing because of him and took more risks. One of the biggest things that Izzy did that summer was enter in the King of the Beach contest. This is something she had always dreamt of, but never expected herself to actually compete.
Plot: This book began with Izzy, the main character, and her two best friends. Sophie and Nicole had been Izzy’s closest friends for as long as she could remember. The girls all worked at Surf Sisters together. Surf Sisters was run by Mickey and Mo, who were the two daughters of the original founder of the shop. They loved their job together, but they also loved surfing together. Izzy was a very good surfer, but never imagined she could be as good as Mickey and Mo were. They had been the only two female competitors in the King of the Beach contest. No matter how great she was, Izzy couldn’t hardly grasp the idea of being as talented as them. When Ben arrived in town, Izzy noticed him right away. Being a local, it was easy for her to spot him out as a tourist. When she finally got a chance to talk to him, she found out that he was staying with his uncle and working at Parks and Recreation for the summer. They began to develop a relationship and they ended up spending a lot of time together. When Ben met Izzy’s parents, they instantly brought him into their family. Her dad really liked Ben because they had a similar love for running. Izzy and Ben encountered a few difficulties throughout their summer together, but ended up solving the majority of them.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to girls ages 13-18. The main character is a girl, so females would be able to relate more to the story.
The book included some romance, which also gears it towards girls. There was some content that the reader would have to be mature enough to handle.
Characterization: At the beginning of the book, Izzy was somewhat shy. She wasn’t great with guys,so she just stuck with her two best friends. As the book progressed, she began to come out of her shell. Meeting Ben was a big part of her development as a character. She became more outgoing because of him and took more risks. One of the biggest things that Izzy did that summer was enter in the King of the Beach contest. This is something she had always dreamt of, but never expected herself to actually compete.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2016
I read the book 'Pulled Under' the second book of the series of 'Sixteenth Summer' but it does not talk about the old characters on the last book. Instead it talks about new character and a new Island. It starts out with a typical girl named Izzy, she works at a surf shop, where they sell surfboards and swim suits. All the the surfboards are custom made by the sisters. One day though a guy came in asking if he could hang a poster on the window so people could go to a contest thing his uncle was doing, Izzy couldn't even talk because he was just that cute. Luckily though, Izzy's friends were there to help her and answer for her. The next day she was determined to find him after her friends made a dare, saying that she had to go out to eat with him. While the other friend was forced to talk to a guy that she had been stalking for the past 2 months. Izzy saves him from eating tourists pizza and takes him to the islanders side to try the good stuff. Ben takes Izzy to the shop and there Izzy proves that she does have the guts to ask a guy out on a date. One night while Izzy was with her family Ben showed up at her house and asked her if she could give her lessons on how to be like one of the 'Islanders'. Of course she says yes because she knows that way she would be with him longer. After some weeks of teaching him about one side of the island and the other side of the island Ben now knows that they separate the islanders with the tourists. Izzy joins the Surf Sisters Surfing School, but only because she finds out that Ben is an instructor there. She also becomes one of the instructors and there she keeps an eye on Ben and the competition, Kristina. She sees how she flirts with him and how she's all over him. She obviously get mad and stops talking to him. One night after Surf School she goes out for a swim, 45 minutes, at the end she realized Ben was there the whole time just watching her. They talk, sorta, Ben kisses her and then everything changes there. After several weeks that pass Ben has to go back to Wisconsin to tell the judges who he wants to live with, he chooses his mother. When he gets back to the island he changes, he's still helping them with the surf contest to win back the surf sisters trophy and to make sure that they don't get their shop taken away. Ben changes because in that week in Wausau Wi. he realized how bad it was going to be when he truely leaves. When they finally grow up and get over it Ben and Izzy gets back together and they get ready for the surfing contest. Between all the drama with the teams on how the Surf Sisters where cheating they finally got over it and and Izzy and the Surf Sister finally won the trophy back for the the twins and in memory of the twins father. At the end it all changes, Ben finds out that the judge gave his mother full custody and that Ben and his mom are moving to the island, and that he's going to stay there with Izzy after all.
Characters:
Izzy: Main Character
A very smart girl that loves her job and her life. She's one of the girls doesn't like spending too much time with people unless its her family or her two close friends. She loves surfing, but she only surfs in places where no one goes, or when no ones at a certain spot. It all changes though, when she meets Ben. She just wants to be with him, she even volunteers surfing school. Where she lives they call people sharks or dolphins, 'Sharks' are the girls that are pretty with an amazing body and that could get any guy they want. 'Dolphins' are the girls that are innocent and that have an okay body, but could not get any guy they want. Izzy calls herself a Dolphin, because she's not much of a shark at all. Izzy gives Ben lessons about the Island, she loves giving him those lessons because that way she spends time with him. Throughout the book Izzy grows more confident thanks to Ben, at first she was just that typical girl that does good in school, has a job, and loves being with her friends. Thanks to Ben though she does things that she thought she would never do, for example, she volunteers at the surf school, competes in the surf contest and when the trophy back to the sisters.
Ben:
Ben was actually born in the Island but then moved to Wausau, Wisconsin when he was just a baby. Ben has had some troubles throughout his childhood, his parents loved each other, but then things started to get bad between him. Of course he supported his mother since he was never close with his father, but between him and his father he got everything from a lawyer, which is why he discovered the hidden message in the handbook of the surfing contest which also helped that team win. Throughout the book we discover that he doesn't believe in love or any of that. When his ex told him that she loved him, he broke up with her before prom to not get her hopes up, but he says that it all changes when he meets Izzy. It changes him, the way he thinks, the way he sees things, etc. Although Ben is having troubles with his family he continues living a normal life while he's away from his parents, he works in the studio with his uncle, and he tries to be like the islanders.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to anyone from ages 16-21 since it's young adult and romance, or just anyone that likes romance books.
Personal Response:
I liked the book, but I liked the last one better, although it was a good book. I liked how in this book they actually got to stay together unlike the other book. This book didn't have me hooked on it like the last book, but it was good not gonna lie, towards the ending with all the surfing and the competition.
Characters:
Izzy: Main Character
A very smart girl that loves her job and her life. She's one of the girls doesn't like spending too much time with people unless its her family or her two close friends. She loves surfing, but she only surfs in places where no one goes, or when no ones at a certain spot. It all changes though, when she meets Ben. She just wants to be with him, she even volunteers surfing school. Where she lives they call people sharks or dolphins, 'Sharks' are the girls that are pretty with an amazing body and that could get any guy they want. 'Dolphins' are the girls that are innocent and that have an okay body, but could not get any guy they want. Izzy calls herself a Dolphin, because she's not much of a shark at all. Izzy gives Ben lessons about the Island, she loves giving him those lessons because that way she spends time with him. Throughout the book Izzy grows more confident thanks to Ben, at first she was just that typical girl that does good in school, has a job, and loves being with her friends. Thanks to Ben though she does things that she thought she would never do, for example, she volunteers at the surf school, competes in the surf contest and when the trophy back to the sisters.
Ben:
Ben was actually born in the Island but then moved to Wausau, Wisconsin when he was just a baby. Ben has had some troubles throughout his childhood, his parents loved each other, but then things started to get bad between him. Of course he supported his mother since he was never close with his father, but between him and his father he got everything from a lawyer, which is why he discovered the hidden message in the handbook of the surfing contest which also helped that team win. Throughout the book we discover that he doesn't believe in love or any of that. When his ex told him that she loved him, he broke up with her before prom to not get her hopes up, but he says that it all changes when he meets Izzy. It changes him, the way he thinks, the way he sees things, etc. Although Ben is having troubles with his family he continues living a normal life while he's away from his parents, he works in the studio with his uncle, and he tries to be like the islanders.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to anyone from ages 16-21 since it's young adult and romance, or just anyone that likes romance books.
Personal Response:
I liked the book, but I liked the last one better, although it was a good book. I liked how in this book they actually got to stay together unlike the other book. This book didn't have me hooked on it like the last book, but it was good not gonna lie, towards the ending with all the surfing and the competition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2019
This may seem like the carbon copy of the first book in the themed series of 16th summer(given the girls are local islanders, the guy has family issues(and still the same issue lol), about first love, and the conflict of a "summer only romance" boo hoo). Okay, I was fine with those as this one has better development and could be classified as legit coming of age novel. I could even relate to the heroine in terms of being nosy of the guy's past but gets hurt and jealous about it lol. "I know, the female mind is weird". Most importantly, Ben is so swoony and dorky boy next door that's just perfect for Izzy.
October 25, 2017
Even though the ratings for this books are higher than for the first one in this series, it was a bit of a disappointment for me. Theoretically, I’m a lot like the main character, Izzy, but somehow I couldn’t relate to her. This book wasn’t half as swoon-worthy and realistic as the first one, in my opinion, but it’s still not bad.
June 15, 2024
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! the way that i could picture everything in this book so vividly. when ben was in the hula outfit at the end CRYING. her dad and best friends, the atmosphere, mickey and mo, the shop, just EVERYTHING was so beautiful within this book and i literally was laughing and swooning aloud. perfect ya summer book, filling my system with so much joy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2017
Izzy is a normal high school girl but when her friends make her go on a date Izzy is determined to show her friends she isnt the quiet shy Izzy around boys. Ben is new to town and looking for friends and maybe a new Izzy.
December 20, 2017
Ugh I am such a sucker for cheesy romance.
September 1, 2024
if you want a horrible fmc and a bland mmc you’d love this book!!
June 25, 2014
I honestly don’t understand why Pulled Under, by Michelle Dalton, isn’t rated higher. At the time I’m typing this, there are only 55 ratings and 11 reviews, but I don’t see what else you could want from a contemporary romance. This book is the perfect summer read. And I do mean perfect. Is it predictable? Sure it is in some ways, like 99% of the books in this genre, but I wouldn’t say the story is unoriginal and it didn’t feel clichéd to me. What it lacks in ground breaking plot, it more than makes up for in authenticity. The story is sweet, nicely paced with a realistic feel, and very well rounded. Dalton absolutely nailed these characters, the beach setting, and a love of all things surfing. The book could have easily been overloaded with terms and slang but it wasn’t. When the author used a surfing reference, she explained it in a way that was easily digestible but still relevant.
I loved Izzy. Her character growth was phenomenal. She begins the story as a shy girl. Since she grew up on an island with the same group of kids, she has no experience in the boyfriend department, but that all changes when she meets Ben, a Wisconsin transplant who was actually born in Pearl Beach. By the time the story finishes, Izzy has become a young woman who knows there are some things she can’t control and there are some things worth fighting for. I loved Ben, too. Not only did he make me swoon again and again, there is such a great balance to his personality. He’s not afraid to be himself, show his emotions, or take risks. He’s good with kids, loves to make people laugh, and there is an intense honesty about him. I’d like to claim him as my own, before anyone else does. Yes, he’s that good!
The minor characters are all great as well. I loved Izzy’s best friends Sophie and Nicole, her mentors and bosses, Mo and Mickey, and Izzy’s mom and dad. We don’t necessarily get to know them super well, but they are an unending and constant support for Izzy.
I admit I’ve always loved the idea of surfing. I don’t live near the ocean or possess a sufficient amount of guts or balance to master the sport, so it’s unlikely I’ll ever pick it up, but this book made me feel like I should. Dalton did an amazing job describing surfing, not just the mindset but riding the actual wave. I was truly impressed by it. And while I’m on the subject of Dalton, she gives great dialogue, funny with flow and naturalness, sweet without an abundance of corny, and serious when the characters need to be. I adored that her characters spoke their minds instead of making assumptions so they could avoid conversations. I loved that Izzy especially wasn’t afraid to ask questions, even when they were personal and she wasn’t sure why she needed the answers.
What else can I say to make you read this book? Tell me and I’ll say it. I liked it that much. I realize a lot of people would only give it 4 stars because of the subject matter, but I gave it 5 because this book made me happy. When I finished it, I was smiling like a loon. The writing is great. The characters are loveable. It’s completely genuine. Go pick up a copy. I hope you love it as much as I did.
I loved Izzy. Her character growth was phenomenal. She begins the story as a shy girl. Since she grew up on an island with the same group of kids, she has no experience in the boyfriend department, but that all changes when she meets Ben, a Wisconsin transplant who was actually born in Pearl Beach. By the time the story finishes, Izzy has become a young woman who knows there are some things she can’t control and there are some things worth fighting for. I loved Ben, too. Not only did he make me swoon again and again, there is such a great balance to his personality. He’s not afraid to be himself, show his emotions, or take risks. He’s good with kids, loves to make people laugh, and there is an intense honesty about him. I’d like to claim him as my own, before anyone else does. Yes, he’s that good!
The minor characters are all great as well. I loved Izzy’s best friends Sophie and Nicole, her mentors and bosses, Mo and Mickey, and Izzy’s mom and dad. We don’t necessarily get to know them super well, but they are an unending and constant support for Izzy.
I admit I’ve always loved the idea of surfing. I don’t live near the ocean or possess a sufficient amount of guts or balance to master the sport, so it’s unlikely I’ll ever pick it up, but this book made me feel like I should. Dalton did an amazing job describing surfing, not just the mindset but riding the actual wave. I was truly impressed by it. And while I’m on the subject of Dalton, she gives great dialogue, funny with flow and naturalness, sweet without an abundance of corny, and serious when the characters need to be. I adored that her characters spoke their minds instead of making assumptions so they could avoid conversations. I loved that Izzy especially wasn’t afraid to ask questions, even when they were personal and she wasn’t sure why she needed the answers.
What else can I say to make you read this book? Tell me and I’ll say it. I liked it that much. I realize a lot of people would only give it 4 stars because of the subject matter, but I gave it 5 because this book made me happy. When I finished it, I was smiling like a loon. The writing is great. The characters are loveable. It’s completely genuine. Go pick up a copy. I hope you love it as much as I did.
April 27, 2014
Original review found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Simon Pulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I thought that this book was super cute. I am by no means a young adult but I found myself thinking back to my summers as a teenager and found myself relating to the characters in the book.
It was more than just a story about young love and summer time crushes. It was about finding yourself and pushing yourself to be your best you. Izzy was a fade into the background kind of girl until Ben came along and gave her the confidence to achieve more than she ever thought possible. Throughout the highs and lows of their summer romance Izzy discovered who she was and where she belonged.
The romance itself was adorable to read. The way Izzy and Ben interacted was sweet, innocent and heartwarming. They were both etremely likeable and quirky and I enjoyed how the relationship developed. I would have loved Ben as a teenager even with the white socks! Mostly I think I enjoyed the fact that their romance was healthy and clean. It was a refreshing change from a lot of what is out there right now.
I would reccommend this book to anyone who is looking for a sweet, wholesome story about young love and growing as a person. Besides a few little kisses the book is squeaky clean and appropriate for the youngest of the young adults and those of us that are young at heart.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Simon Pulse via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I thought that this book was super cute. I am by no means a young adult but I found myself thinking back to my summers as a teenager and found myself relating to the characters in the book.
It was more than just a story about young love and summer time crushes. It was about finding yourself and pushing yourself to be your best you. Izzy was a fade into the background kind of girl until Ben came along and gave her the confidence to achieve more than she ever thought possible. Throughout the highs and lows of their summer romance Izzy discovered who she was and where she belonged.
The romance itself was adorable to read. The way Izzy and Ben interacted was sweet, innocent and heartwarming. They were both etremely likeable and quirky and I enjoyed how the relationship developed. I would have loved Ben as a teenager even with the white socks! Mostly I think I enjoyed the fact that their romance was healthy and clean. It was a refreshing change from a lot of what is out there right now.
I would reccommend this book to anyone who is looking for a sweet, wholesome story about young love and growing as a person. Besides a few little kisses the book is squeaky clean and appropriate for the youngest of the young adults and those of us that are young at heart.
March 3, 2016
Personal Response:
I really liked this book because it has a very interesting setting, and a lot of awesome characters. Some parts of the book make me feel like I'm a part of it, and it's awesome.
Plot Setting:
This book takes place in Florida, by Pearl Beach. It starts out in the shop, Surf Sisters, and goes to many other places. Izzy, the main character, has to save her new friend from Wisconsin, Ben, from the tourist side of the beach. She teaches him the language of the locals, how to dress like the locals, how to surf and many other things. But during that she starts to fall for him, and not having much experience with boys, she doesn't know how he feels toward her. Her two best friends realize that theylike each other, and they sentence Izzy to ask him out on a date. She does, she finds out many things about Ben, like his home life, and love life. She has starts to think that Ben doesn't like her the way she likes him. So one morning she goes to surf, she is a great surfee by the way, and when she gets off a wave and hears clapping she is suprised to see that it's Ben. They share some pretty good and bad moments together over the summer. Ben keeps trying to get Izzy to compete in the King of the Beach surfing contest. Will she do it?
Recommendations:
I recommend this book to highschoolers, and probably females. It's a book about romance, and I don't think that guys like that kind of stuff. Girls would be able to connect more with the main character in the book.
I really liked this book because it has a very interesting setting, and a lot of awesome characters. Some parts of the book make me feel like I'm a part of it, and it's awesome.
Plot Setting:
This book takes place in Florida, by Pearl Beach. It starts out in the shop, Surf Sisters, and goes to many other places. Izzy, the main character, has to save her new friend from Wisconsin, Ben, from the tourist side of the beach. She teaches him the language of the locals, how to dress like the locals, how to surf and many other things. But during that she starts to fall for him, and not having much experience with boys, she doesn't know how he feels toward her. Her two best friends realize that theylike each other, and they sentence Izzy to ask him out on a date. She does, she finds out many things about Ben, like his home life, and love life. She has starts to think that Ben doesn't like her the way she likes him. So one morning she goes to surf, she is a great surfee by the way, and when she gets off a wave and hears clapping she is suprised to see that it's Ben. They share some pretty good and bad moments together over the summer. Ben keeps trying to get Izzy to compete in the King of the Beach surfing contest. Will she do it?
Recommendations:
I recommend this book to highschoolers, and probably females. It's a book about romance, and I don't think that guys like that kind of stuff. Girls would be able to connect more with the main character in the book.
November 5, 2014
This book was really fun to read. The summer romance Ben and Izzy had was so fun and eventful and it made the book much more enjoyable to read. I feel like I love reading romantic books and this was really cute, like when after Ben and Izzy kissed, getting seen by her dad, he went along with Izzy's lie saying he was just coming over to go on a run with her dad. He ended up running 14 miles and I think it's adorable that he did that for Izzy.
Izzy's friends and family all seemed like good people to be surrounded by, which made the book more fun to read along with. I felt like I was there in some points. This is a great storyline as well for teens because of the sweet romance. The theme I think was to believe in yourself. Izzy from the start had to remember who she was and be the best she could be. She didn't believe that Ben would like her but as she stayed confident it showed more that he did and they had a great relationship that was really cute throughout the whole book which I loved.
Izzy's friends and family all seemed like good people to be surrounded by, which made the book more fun to read along with. I felt like I was there in some points. This is a great storyline as well for teens because of the sweet romance. The theme I think was to believe in yourself. Izzy from the start had to remember who she was and be the best she could be. She didn't believe that Ben would like her but as she stayed confident it showed more that he did and they had a great relationship that was really cute throughout the whole book which I loved.
July 5, 2014
I've been looking for a cute romance novel for the summer and it's been difficult. I found Pulled Under and was super excited. I grew up near the bitch so a book about that intrigued me. But that was the only good thing. Izzy barely grew as a character and I often found myself wanting to know more about her friend Sophie. Ben and Izzy's relationship also annoyed me. There was no growing there.
I barely made it through the book. My mind wandered and I can usually finish a book like this within 3 hours. I skimmed through the rest and was seriously disappointed by that ending. I wish the author wrote an answer.
I'm disappointed in the book. I wish there were more cute YA romance novels out there. Or at least good ones.
I barely made it through the book. My mind wandered and I can usually finish a book like this within 3 hours. I skimmed through the rest and was seriously disappointed by that ending. I wish the author wrote an answer.
I'm disappointed in the book. I wish there were more cute YA romance novels out there. Or at least good ones.
August 6, 2017
Still love this book after my re-read. It's one I know that I want to read every summer!
Original review in 2015:
Seriously loved this book. Easily added to my favourite books ever.
Not only do I love books that take place during the summer, but I love it more when there in a coastal/ tourist town, probably because I'm jealous something like what happened in this book never happened to me. Granted if be the tourist...
Izzy was such a great main character. And I loved Sophie and Nicole. And her parents. I'll just say I enjoyed everyone. Ben was a great love interest. To me the romance aspect didn't feel rushed or overdone, which is probably another reason why I loved this one so much. And no love triangles!
If you want a cute fluffy feel good summer romance here's one for you.
Original review in 2015:
Seriously loved this book. Easily added to my favourite books ever.
Not only do I love books that take place during the summer, but I love it more when there in a coastal/ tourist town, probably because I'm jealous something like what happened in this book never happened to me. Granted if be the tourist...
Izzy was such a great main character. And I loved Sophie and Nicole. And her parents. I'll just say I enjoyed everyone. Ben was a great love interest. To me the romance aspect didn't feel rushed or overdone, which is probably another reason why I loved this one so much. And no love triangles!
If you want a cute fluffy feel good summer romance here's one for you.
October 16, 2016
A sixteenth summer pulled under , Written By Michelle Dalton. I give this book a 5. This is a great book I loved that it was all so similar and different on every page. Ben and Izzy were a really great match for eachother and after spending a whole summer together they really bonded. Izzy and Ben spent a lot of time trying to figure themselves out, when all along they had both liked each other. The ending was a surprise , read to find out. I loved the book and I recommend for an easy short read.
February 19, 2014
FINSHED IT! Not as awesome as Sixteenth Summer but it was quite awesome! :)
i looooooved Sixteenth Summer a whole lot...so i cant wait for this!! :D
i looooooved Sixteenth Summer a whole lot...so i cant wait for this!! :D
August 2, 2014
TEETY TINY SPOILER.. Amazing book through and through
Wait for it... (Spoiler)
Thank god it was a happy ending, I just wish there was more of that ending, Ben was super swoon worthy, loved him and his white high socks from the beginning
Wait for it... (Spoiler)
Thank god it was a happy ending, I just wish there was more of that ending, Ben was super swoon worthy, loved him and his white high socks from the beginning
January 1, 2015
beautiful!!!!!! i loved everything about this book!
May 4, 2015
This book was so adorable!
Seriously! I can't wait to read her other books! <3
Seriously! I can't wait to read her other books! <3
October 30, 2020
This was such a suspenseful, humourous and sweet summer novel that I LOVED.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews