My Thoughts:

I have not really done white YA literature recently. When I choose books, I am looking for more diversity that is closer to the kinds of students I have as well as the students they have (I teach middle level and secondary teachers). Perhaps that is why it has sat on my Kindle for so long considering my version is an advanced digital version and the book was published in 2019. However, mental health has no color. Queer is also its own color so suffice it to say I took a while to read this.

Saying that, this was a story about survival. "Fuck perseverance," this was really about survival and searching. The answers were not found to the original questions. However, unasked questions were indeed answered. Perhaps we need a metaphor. The metaphor is the sea as destructor and life bringer. The sea seems to be our last unconquered frontier. She is a mystery and will remain a mystery for time immemorial. That is what this book is like. It holds mystery and darkness, secrets and magic. In then end there is no end, there is just survival.

From the Publisher:
The Larkin family isn't just lucky—they persevere. At least that's what Violet and her younger brother, Sam, were always told. When the Lyric sank off the coast of Maine, their great-great-great-grandmother didn't drown like the rest of the passengers. No, Fidelia swam to shore, fell in love, and founded Lyric, Maine, the town Violet and Sam returned to every summer. But wrecks seem to run in the family: Tall, funny, musical Violet can't stop partying with the wrong people. And, one beautiful summer day, brilliant, sensitive Sam attempts to take his own life.

Shipped back to Lyric while Sam is in treatment, Violet is haunted by her family's missing piece—the lost shipwreck she and Sam dreamed of discovering when they were children. Desperate to make amends, Violet embarks on a wildly ambitious mission: locate the Lyric, lain hidden in a watery grave for over a century. She finds a fellow wreck hunter in Liv Stone, an amateur local historian whose sparkling intelligence and guarded gray eyes make Violet ache in an exhilarating new way. Whether or not they find the Lyric, the journey Violet takes—and the bridges she builds along the way—may be the start of something like survival.

Publication Information:
Author: Julia Drake
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (October 1, 2019)
Pages: 400

I really liked the book ! The main character was liakable and I loved the plot ,I wish it was longer tho ,to enjoy it a little bit more

This took me a little bit to get into, but when I did, I was really taken by the language. It's a coming of age story about mental health, family, friendships, and love. And a shipwreck.

This is one of those books that will stick with the reader - it's sweet, it tugs at the heart strings... Really everything one needs in a quality young adult novel. This was a random pick up, and one I unfortunately haven't seen get enough interest in my library system. The cover is definitely appealing, but I think this book might need to be highlighted in a display, curated reading list, or something of the type in order to garner the attention it truly deserves. The book itself is very well written, the characters feel appropriately genuine and true to life, and the story is enchanting.

Definitely recommended for young adult collections.

This was so, so lovely. It's fitting that the town Violet's family founded is named Lyric, because this entire book felt so lyrical - almost like poetry. The writing is atmospheric, and the "sense" of the book stayed with me long after I finished. And I loved Violet fiercely - she's tough and smart and funny and eventually vulnerable. I've recommended this to teens who want a romance that isn't all about romance, Highly recommended!

I got this from NetGalley to preview.

The writing was clean and decent, but the content was nothing I was looking for. I liked the initial tie to Twelfth Night, but when it turned to sex and such, that's when it lost me. I don't need smut, and most teens I know already get too much of that all over, so why encourage it in their reading? I've seen too much evidence of it messing them up, sometimes with very lasting consequences, to applaud it. Sad, because I think Drake could be a decent writer if she wasn't relying so much on the sex angst.

I liked the premise, I liked the unspooling of the family history and the complicated dynamics of living with a loved one struggling with depression. The Lyric setting and family legacy parts were fascinating. At times Violet came off a bit more dramatic than I liked and she annoyed me a few times, but overall I thought this was a great debut!

Violet Larkin's life is spiraling out of control. Even she realizes she is not making the best choices for herself, but she can't stop. Urges hit her and the NYC nights grow longer, the drinking more ample and the sex more risky.

When her younger brother, Sam, attempts to take his own life, Violet even acts out at the hospital. The situation is overwhelming and scary. Despite the serious nature of their circumstances as a family, she just can't stop herself. Her parents catch her hitting on a much older man at the vending machines and know that something must change or they risk losing both of their children.

While her brother Sam heads off to Vermont for treatment, Violet is sent to Lyric, Maine, to stay with her Uncle. Luckily, Violet doesn't see Maine as a punishment. In fact, her great-great-great Grandmother founded the town of Lyric after surviving a shipwreck, and they travel there as a family every summer.

She has a lot of good memories in that town. Maybe it will help her slow her brain down and find some inner peace. Violet settles in quickly. Her Uncle is kind and understanding of her needs. She gets a job at the local aquarium, and although still struggling with the stressors of her regular life, begins to make a new group of friends.

One of Violet's missions for the summer is to locate the shipwreck that her ancestor survived. It is something she and Sam always talked about doing together and she wants to find it for him. Along with her new friends, including a truth-seeking girl who makes Violet's pulse race, she sets out to unravel the mystery of the wreck.

This is such a beautifully told story about family, self-discovery and forgiveness. Drake packed this full of hella serious subject matter, while writing with such humanity and care, it filled my heart. The friendship group that Violet finds in Lyric are complete friendship goals. Additionally, the evolution of her relationship with Liv...It was everything. It felt so real. The anticipation, those moments when you first figure out your feelings for another person. The excitement. I was legit swooning.

I also really appreciated Violet's family. I like that her parents were supportive and loving. You could tell they wanted what was best for their kids. I think oftentimes in literature, YA in particular, it seems like if a character is struggling with their mental health, they come from a horrible family, or their family isn't there for them.

I thought it was nice to show that issues with mental health impact people from all segments of society, great families and not so great families alike. I also thought the ranges of the issues both Violet and Sam are working through were more varied than you generally see. As you can tell, I was really impressed with how this novel handled the topic of mental health.

Overall, The Last True Poets of the Sea is the perfect read for anyone looking for a hard-hitting, Queer YA Contemporary. If those buzzwords work for you, make sure you pick this up!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. It is a story I will never forget.

After her brother attempts suicide, Violet’s family is torn apart. Her parents retreat in their grief at home in New York City, her brother is in a treatment center and Violet, a sixteen-year-old wild child, is sent off to live with her uncle in her mother’s hometown on the coast of Maine. While there she is determined to isolate herself but she is sent to volunteer at the aquarium where she meets Orion, a local teen with a unique circle of friends. The story follows Violet as she faces her own trauma over her strained relationship with her brother and his mental illness. Weaved in is her new quest to investigate her family’s strange history including the mystery of the famous shipwreck that her great great grandmother survived. Another element is a love triangle that develops between Violet, Orion and Liv. With parallels to Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this is a sweet and thoughtful novel with lovely prose, an enchanting setting and vivid characters. A lovely coming of age tale that addresses mental illness, family dynamics, sexual orientation and first romance.

I love a book where the characters stay with you, even when you aren't reading. The Last True Poets of the Sea deals with so many contemporary issues, and the characters are believable. It deals with suicide, family issues, love, friendship, mental illness, and LGBTQ; it is a lot all in one book. It is also a book about hope and finding yourself. I found myself cheering for each of the characters in their own way.

Mix all of that in with a shipwreck, mystery, an aquarium, and a beachside town, and I was hooked. I would recommend this book for high schoolers on up. It would be a great discussion book between parents and their high school children.

I was given this book for my honest review.

3.5*
There’s a long-held story of the origins of the town of Lyric, Maine. A long time ago, a ship named Lyric sank off the coast and one woman survived. She swam to shore and met a man. They became the founders of the coastal town. But the shipwrecked vessel has never been found and it is a source of fascination for one of the founder’s descendants – Violet Larkin.

Violet finds herself sent to stay at the family home in Lyric while her brother Sam is recovering at a health facility. The quiet seaside town is far removed from the wild New York City parties that Violet has been frequenting. In her attempt to adjust to the simple town, she meets another girl who is obsessed with the story surrounding the wreck and the founding of the town.

This is Violet’s story of finding herself. She has been on a destructive path and both her and her brother’s lives have become perilous. Can a quest for family history bring some peace to Violet and will her newfound friends help her in her quest?

Drake’s story is almost dreamlike. Violet seems to float through the town seeking something intangible. She and her brother are each fighting their own demons and their stories are touching. They are sympathetic characters and the teens that befriend Violet in Lyric add a welcoming and soothing feeling to Violet's otherwise loud and out-of-control life. The tale of the wrecked ship is important to the plot but it will take more than that to heal the troubled souls of the Larkin siblings.

I'm so happy this ended up being my first read of 2020 because I absolutely loved it. I was really able to connect to Violet's character and additionally, loved her brother, uncle, and the friend group. The atmosphere in this is so great and I really loved the representation in it and the discussion of grief, mental health, blame, etc. I'm really looking forward to reading more from Julia Drake!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

This book was especially moving and interesting for a YA novel. I loved the main character, loved her relationship with her brother, and loved that the central romance didn't magically solve all problems—by the end of the novel, it was clear that all problems weren't even permanently solved, because some issues actually require constant effort. At times the plot maybe tried to cleave too closely to the Twelth Night association, and things got a little strained, but overall it was quite beautiful.

Think warm summer nights, ones that are almost too muggy to be enjoyable but you love them anyway. this book is like that, lovely and warm but not shy with showing the imperfections, the messiness of its components. the prose was wonderful, the characters flawed and endearing, the setting was sweeping and all-encompassing. i loved every minute

Gorgeous, atmospheric and bursting with larger than life characters, I immediately fell hard for Julia Drake's debut. Lyric was a perfect town to get lost in and Violet, a perfect character to follow. I felt lulled by the seaside town's charm and the lyrical prose. I loved everything about this book and was sad to see the story end. A definite contender for Best Book of 2019 and a contemporary that I will definitely be recommending widely.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake.

This is a story that is full of romance, family history, mental health and tragedy. It should have been exactly what I look for as a book, but unfortunately I couldn't get myself to finish it. I hate using the word vapid, but...

I think it was just a bit too chick-lit for me. And I say that because whether or not a reader enjoys this is totally personal preference. It just wasn't for me.

I really liked this for it's depiction of how someone's struggles with mental illness can have drastic effects on their loved ones. Violet's voice felt very authentic and believable, especially when she spoke about her brother. The reason I only gave this 3 stars was because it dragged quite a bit, and the prose was a bit flowery for my taste. There were some really beautiful passages, but then others went on for far too long (especially towards the end). That being said, I would read whatever the author writes next as this was a promising debut.

I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

When I first saw this title I was excited for another little mermaid retelling. I quickly realized I had stumbled across something far greater.

This story discusses mental illness, growth, and the idea that it’s okay to just “be.” As mental illness is such a difficult topic for many, I truly appreciated the realistic approach and that discussions occurred between characters rather than just glossed over.

Lastly, what really made me love this story was that it showed how the journey is more important than the finished product. Today we are so rushed to have tasks, including our own mental health, completed that we don’t take the time to focus on how we got to the finish line, to being okay. In the journey we find the learning opportunities.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. I will be purchasing a hard copy as well as recommending this to others!