ARC Review: Riptide by Lindsay Scheibe

Name of book: Riptide
Author: Lindsay Scheibe
Publication: May 8th 2013 by Flux
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the kind publisher...
Goodreads

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?

-- My Rating --

3.5 / 5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     I love light contemporary reads with cute, unforgettable characters. But contemporary reads are also a 

great risk. Since, one little slip by the author and it may be too much and turn the book 180 degrees. This 

book was not my favorite but it had its nice moments.

     Grace is an ambitious surfer with over-achieving parents who want her to attend the Ivy Leagues. But Grace has other  plans, including getting accepted at a surfing college and getting her best friend, Ford to notice her in a new way. But the universe seems to be against any of her wishes working out.

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Quotes are buoys in the ocean. I hang onto them fo sanity, for life, for hope. Quotes keep me going. Sometimes having someone else's words encourage me. They give shape to my feelings 

                                       - Grace

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     I loved that this book concentrated on many different subjects all at once. Racial differences. Immigrants getting deported. Abuse. Pursuing dreams. And teenage angst. What is remarkable is that the author succeeded in blending all these subjects into one book and never confusing the reader. The two main characters, Grace and Ford,  have very distinctive voices,  and I liked them.  But never really felt what they FELT. The secondary characters were more like cardboard cut-outs for me and I didn't connect very well.
     The character development is evident in this book and I liked witnessing it. The plot is quick and not action-packed, but it's thrilling. Although this book had its own ups and downs, with perfect moments, and moments that made me say "Ugh" and "Meh", it still was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.