This book felt like TJR in all the right ways and i loved. I bought a copy for my friend and hopefully soon we can talk about this amazing story together.

After her father passes away and her mother can't cope leading to a drinking problem Ellie is forced to move from New York to California to live with her aunt and uncle. Once in California, she discovers surfing.
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I really enjoyed this one I have always been interested in surfing so I loved all the surfer terminology. I did really feel for Ellie as she was going through a difficult time in her life.

I loved this book. It did make me feel old because it was considered Historical and it was set in the 80s... I grew up in the 80s. And this had nothing to do with the book. I loved all the characters and the storyline of the book. Such a sweet romance book. I would definitely recommend this book.

A book about surfing song me up.
I loved the relationships in the book and I was invested in the book, I had fun reading it. But there was something that was missing for me.

More than just a fluffy rom com, One with the Waves by Vezna Andrews is a book about finding community, connection, and healing. It's about the power of the ocean and how Ellie finds herself again in the surf. I appreciated the setting of '80s Southern California.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Ohhh how I love a good coming of age story and this one did not disappoint. Also with the added surfing element and beaches in genera, which as so fun and ripe with story… this was a fun read!

3 ⭐️

a book about surfing in the 80s? sign me up!

in this book, we’re following ellie as she learns how to surf amidst some really hard times. i loved getting to see her thought process as she worked through those big feelings while doing something she loved. as someone who loves the ocean more than almost anything, i thought it was beautiful to see that journey.

i do feel like perhaps some parts were a bit rushed and there were certain topics i wished had more depth. but overall it was a good read!

thank you to santa monica press for this eARC!

I really appreciated the scenery and sweetness of this story. There’s plenty of the stereotypical surfer slang and nicknames, giving you the nostalgia and laid back vibes the cover/title promises. Highlighting self growth and finding one’s identity, this is a coming of age story the reader can root for.

Even though summer is officially over it doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy a book set on the beach. Don’t let this beautiful cover fool you though. One with the Waves is a YA coming of age story that touches on some very heavy topics.

Despite the heavy topics, I loved watching the growth of the MC as she grieved and also started to heal from a tremendous loss. Not only did she have family members and friends to help her along the way, but she found solace in the waves and surfing.

At the end of the book there is a fun song list that reminds me of growing up in So Cal in the 80s.

Thank you #netgally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub date: May 23, 2023

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A decent teen read about making mistakes and growing. It was okay, but not the best.

This was a quick easy read but not a light one. I was excited to follow Ellie to the West Coast after the death of her father. The people she met there were endearing and supportive to the story. However, I struggled with the range of emotions displayed by both Ellie and her mom. There wasn't enough history revealed to understand the depth of their loss.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Unfortunately this one is not one I can give a rating to as at about 38% I ended up DNFing. Now this isn’t due it being a bad book, but it just wasn’t engaging me. Younger me would’ve LOVED this book! I was a huge fan of surf books when I was younger and all the book that I read that was the focus which was great! But it just isn’t something I found engaging with all the details on learning to surf. The story of what I read also looked a lot at learning to deal with the loss of her father at age 15 so beware if you’re looking at engaging this book that is a big theme as well. ☺️

7/10, this is a unique book but I've seen a book like this called One Would Think the Deep by Claire Zorn but it was only OK however this was better than that; I liked the characters and especially the setting which is California in the 1980s. The main character Ellie apparently experiences character development through surfing and I thought that concept wouldn't work but somehow the author pulled it off; the writing style was contemporary yet realistic which I liked. If you like books about surfing pick this one; I think you'll enjoy this.

Fun story about surfing, relationships, and family. This was such a good book. I loved the characters and the way the author kept the entanglements between the characters. A fantastic coming to age story and wonderful storytelling. I would recommend this book for sure.


thank you NetGalley and Santa Monica Press for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Ellie is a fifteen year old who was born and raised in New York. Her life is upended when she is sent to California to live with her aunt and uncle. Her home life is not ideal because of her mother’s lifestyle. Being a teenager is hard enough and now she is moving to place that is different from her old life. The reader follows Ellie’s journey and we read the changes she goes through. The characters are well written. A fantastic coming to age story and wonderful storytelling.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Santa Monica Press for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5/5*

CW: death of a parent, drugs, little mention of alcohol

This was a cute coming of age story that dealt with heavy topics as how it went down in the eighties. Though the characters were enjoyable, i felt the writing had its moments and you can tell the research that went into when it came to surfing and their locations. I would recommend this for a young adults that would be able to handle the topics as mentioned. I do hope to check out more of the author’s works in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy for a review.

This was such a good book. I loved the characters and the way the author kept the entanglements between the characters real.
There was a heavy emphasis on surfing, which kept the plot going as well as opened my mind about all that is surfing! I really enjoyed learning about a sport I am not familiar with. I might have to give it a try! Or at least be more knowledgeable when I see it on tv!
There is some bullying which is disturbing on it's own, but I didn't really understand the point of it in the story. It seemed like an add-on for more drama. But I don't think it was needed.
All in all, a really good read.
Enjoy!

Born and raised in New York City 15 year old Ellie ia forced to move to California with her Aunt and Uncle when her father unexpectedly dies. In order to cope with all the changes going on in her new life she learns to surf and experiences so many exciting things for the first time.

I liked this book. Ellie grew so much after all she had been through. There is a lot going on in the book and it's nice to see the journey of a young girl that fights through all the hard obstacles!

I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review!

3.5*

As a product of the 80s I was excited to find a book set in that decade! But that's where any idea of relating to this book went out the window, don't take that as a bad thing, though!

I've never set foot on a surfboard and have no desire ever to, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this book. It's a sweet coming of age story, with a touch of melancholy. Ellie's world has been turned upside down and this is her tale of finding her way through the grief and upheaval of her life.

As someone who grew up in the South Bay, I was really excited to see a book set in my childhood stomping grounds, close to the time period I was there, too. I'm a sucker for a book where the ocean and the beach are a safe haven for a character, so this one hit home. The message of this book—having the confidence to forge your own path in life—is fantastic.

I would have hoped to have seen more 80s California surf vibes and references, though. It felt like there were only a couple bits of lingo peppered in. Had I not had such a deep connection to that time and location, I don't think I would have noticed or yearned for that, though.